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3 ways the SF Giants could force a trade for Shohei Ohtani

Trading for Shohei Ohtani may be a pipe dream, but the San Francisco Giants have the means to make the Angels think long and hard about it.

By Eric Cole

Jul 8, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17)
Jul 8, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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Before things get too out of hand, lets be clear: the San Francisco Giants trading for Shohei Ohtani is very unlikely. The Angels are still kinda hanging around in the American League West and while it does sound like LA will listen to offers on him, Shohei's insane value as a two-way player and the fact that the Angels don't want to be known as the team that traded him away makes a deal all but impossible.

The Giants' desire to bring in a big name has been well-documented over the last couple of years. They pursued Aaron Judge before he re-signed with the Yankees and Carlos Correa would have been a Giant if he hadn't failed a physical. There are even Giants players like Alex Cobb predicting that the team will bring Ohtani to San Francisco already ($). There is obvious interest from the Giants, but getting a deal done seems far from easy.

The only way for San Francisco to even get their foot in the door in trade negotiations is to swing big. Sure, Ohtani is a free agent after this season, but he is literally the only player in the league that is a frontline starter and elite power hitter all in one.

Here is how the SF Giants could force a trade for Shohei Ohtani

If the Giants want to make this trade happen, it is going to have to look like a win for the Angels and that is easier said than done. If the Angels trade Ohtani, it would effectively torpedo any chance of making the playoffs this season. Any hope that a trade package that looks like it is for a rental player will not come close to getting the job done and frankly...giving up that much for Ohtani unless the Giants have confidence that they can keep him may be unwise.

However, there are ways for the Giants to force the Angels to consider their future. We aren't saying the Giants need to do ALL of these things to trade for Ohtani, but simply that these options could individually be the start of conversations that could get a deal done against all odds. Here is a look at how the Giants could force LA's hand on Shohei Ohtani.

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