This offseason is setting up to be a major one for the San Francisco Giants. The organization has made mostly mid-level moves over the past few seasons, and its higher-priced additions, like Kevin Gausman and Carlos Rodón, have been short-term moves.
Perhaps the biggest name not officially on the market, and probably the biggest name in the sport, is Shohei Ohtani. The superstar has one year left on his deal with the Angels, and could potentially be dealt.
Ohtani expressed some frustration after the season about the way the Angels’ season went, and their inability to remain competitive down the stretch, at one point losing 14-straight games. Per The Athletic, some executives from opposing teams aren’t sure Ohtani wants to stick with the Angels, who are going through an ownership change.
That said, the team’s GM stated Monday that Ohtani won’t be traded. So there’s that.
The Athletic took a look at nine potential trades teams might concoct to acquire Ohtani, including the Giants. Beat writer Andrew Baggarly proposed the following trade, per the article:
“The offer: The Giants trade IF Marco Luciano, OF Luis Matos, LHP Kyle Harrison and IF David Villar for Shohei Ohtani and IF Matt Duffy.“
It’s a monster offer that would give up the Giants’ top three prospects in their system and promising young slugger David Villar for Ohtani and starting third baseman and former Giant Matt Duffy.
Is that too high a price to pay? For a team without a true star, Baggarly says not, pointing to the fact that last season brought record low numbers of fans at Oracle Park (in a season without attendance restrictions).
Ohtani has been outrageously good since joining the Angels, making two All-Star teams in the last two seasons and winning MVP in 2021. He’s an MVP finalist again this year.
He hit .273 with 34 home runs, 95 RBI and 11 steals last year, while posting an outrageous 2.33 ERA over 28 starts. No one else in the game is in his stratosphere.
If the Giants need are going to “make a statement” this offseason, as Baggarly suggests they do, why not Ohtani? The prospect haul is heavy, but he explained why the Giants could rationalize those losses.
Both Matos and Luciano, Baggarly says, are far from the MLB roster, but have to be protected from the Rule 5 draft to avoid being picked up by other teams. Why else could they be dealt in this sort of trade?
“Luciano is the Giants’ top prospect but he’s no sure bet. His offensive value is in his slugging, not his on-base skills, and he’s far from a positional certainty to remain at shortstop. The power ceiling is immense, though.
“Matos is undersized and struggled as one of the youngest position players in High A, but he’s a go-getter in center field with all the bat speed and hand-eye coordination to project as a high-average hitter if he adds a bit more strength.”
The obvious star is Harrison, who was excellent last season, Baggarly writes:
“Harrison would be the prize of this trade. He has dominated every level, and while he still needs to polish up his arm-side fastball command, the stuff would play against major league hitters right now.”
While Villar would hurt, too, Baggarly suggests third base prospect Casey Schmitt might ease that pain. In the end, the Giants would have Ohtani and a starting third baseman for four of their prospects.
It would put a major dent in their prospect pool, but net them a bona fide star the likes of which we’ve never really seen. From that perspective, is it worth it?
