With the 2022 trade deadline approaching, many in the Los Angeles Angels office seemingly accepted the reality that two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani’s days in Anaheim likely were numbered.
Evidently, owner Arte Moreno refused to do the same, potentially costing the Angels a top-15 prospect.
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According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the San Diego Padres were interested in Ohtani and then-Washington Nationals superstar Juan Soto nearly three summers ago. Ohtani had a year and a half remaining on his deal, while Soto would hit free agency following the 2024 season.
“As Ohtani approached free agency, Moreno on multiple occasions could have authorized his front office to trade the two-way superstar,” Rosenthal wrote Friday, “with future San Diego Padres superstar Jackson Merrill among the prospects in play at the 2022 deadline.”
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado in 2024Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Imagine the Padres fielding a playoff lineup featuring Ohtani, Manny Machado, and Ha-Seong Kim. Although All-Star outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. missed the end of 2022 after a PED suspension, he returned the following April and posted 5.2 bWAR in 141 games.
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However, Moreno refused to trade Ohtani, and the Padres set their eyes on Soto. San Diego added the generational slugger and first baseman Josh Bell in exchange for several top prospects, including MacKenzie Gore, shortstop CJ Abrams, and outfielder James Wood.
Ohtani, of course, signed with the Dodgers in December 2023. All he did in his first season was lead the Dodgers to their second title in five years, create the 50-50 club, and win his third MVP.
It’s been business as usual thus far for Ohtani, who is hitting .310 with 15 home runs, 28 RBI, a 1.082 OPS, and 2.5 bWAR.
Had he joined the Padres at the 2022 deadline, it’s entirely possible he would have re-upped with the team in free agency. However, it’s also worth noting the Padres traded Soto to the New York Yankees in December 2023, maximizing his value before he joined the crosstown Mets on a record-setting deal.
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Meanwhile, the Angels appear headed for a 10th straight losing season. Future Hall of Fame outfielder Mike Trout didn’t even make it 30 games before his latest knee injury, and shortstop Zach Neto is the only hitter with a bWAR over 0.8.
As for Merrill, he entered Friday hitting .412 with four home runs, 17 RBI, a 1.115 OPS, and a 1.3 bWAR over 73 plate appearances. Those sound like the type of numbers that a 17-25 Angels club would love having.
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