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

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.

The Giants could build a package around Kyle Harrison

Normally, trading a borderline top 10 prospect in all of baseball like Kyle Harrison for a guy that could be a free agent at the end of season is not a good idea. However, there is nothing normal about Shohei Ohtani and to get the Angels' attention, the Giants need to be willing to part with big time talent.

Harrison has almost everything you want from a pitching prospect. He has three pitches that at least flash plus, is already at Triple-A knocking at the door of the big leagues, and he does so with his left arm which never hurts. His command can be a bit spotty at times, but the upside is undeniable.

This would be a tough pill for the Giants to swallow, but Ohtani may be worth it. San Francisco is in need of another starting pitcher and Harrison appeared to be a mortal lock to get called up soon. However, a hamstring injury right before the All-Star break is delaying his big league debut. Ohtani would immediately give the rotation arm the Giants need plus the added bonus of also getting one of the better power bats in the entire league.

What is crazy is that Harrison probably wouldn't be enough to get a deal done, but a package centered around him is a good place to start. The nice thing about Ohtani is that he fills two needs which makes the initial investment required feel better if you think about trading for him as trading for two elite players.

Being willing to take on Anthony Rendon's contract could be the ultimate X-factor for the Giants

This is the "break glass in case of an emergency" option that the Giants could employ to get a deal for Ohtani done. The one thing that is clear is that the Giants have money to spend and a willingness to spend it. Keeping Ohtani beyond this season is already likely to require a record-breaking contract. However, if the Giants really want to force the Angels' hand, one way to do it is to offer to take on Anthony Rendon's contract.

To be clear, Rendon's contract is awful. He is owed $38 million a year through the 2026 season and given that he hasn't been able to stay healthy nor has he posted an OPS higher than .712 in any of the last three seasons, it is no wonder that his deal is considered one of the worst contracts in all of baseball.

The rationale here is simple: if the Angels are going to lose Ohtani anyways, the best thing they can do is free up their payroll to try and try to make splashes in other ways while Mike Trout is still around. With Rendon's contract eating up that much space on their ledger, building a competitive roster is a whole lot more difficult with his contract on their books.

For the Giants, this sort of move would be pretty desperate. In fact, it is the one factor in an Ohtani trade that would probably need to necessitate the Angels sending more than just Ohtani to make happen. This option also seems to be the least likely. This Giants organization is generally very smart with how they invest their funds and if they nixed Correa's deal because of his ankle, they are not likely to enjoy what they see on Rendon's physical. However, if they see any potential in getting Rendon right, then this is an option that could work.

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