Los Angeles Angels in Listening Mode on Shohei Ohtani: Report

The Los Angeles Angels may be ready to start listening to offers on Shohei Ohtani, and the Texas Rangers have something to start a conversation.

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The needle continues to move on the availability of Los Angeles Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani.

MLB.com reported on Saturday that the Angels are starting to come to grips with the possibility that they may not be contenders in the American League West and for the AL Wildcard. While a trade is still viewed as unlikely, the Angels are now in “listening mode,” per the report.

The report also indicates the Angels might have a starting point — multiple Top 100 prospects, as the Aug. 1 trade deadline nears.

The Angels are now in a listening mode with Shohei Ohtani trade inquiries, sources say, as I reported in this @MLBNetwork segment. Suitors must be prepared to offer multiple top-100 type prospects to begin the conversation. @MLBPipeline @MLB pic.twitter.com/WEea8ReOlt

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 15, 2023

How would that impact the Texas Rangers? Well, the Rangers have five Top 100 prospects, per both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America.

At MLB Pipeline, the Rangers have outfielder Evan Carter at No. 7, pitcher Owen White at No. 45, infielder Luisangel Acuña at No. 46, pitcher Brock Porter at No. 62 and pitcher Jack Leiter at No. 92.

At Baseball America, the composition of Top 100 prospects is slightly different.

First-round pick Wyatt Langford is now the Rangers’ top prospect at No. 11, followed by Carter at No. 12. Acuña is ranked No. 90, infielder Sebastian Walcott is ranked No. 93 and White is ranked No. 100.

The report doesn’t directly link the Rangers to Ohtani. The report offers that the Los Angeles Dodgers have the most Top 100 prospects to offer, with nine in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 but Angels owner Arte Morena has said he isn't keen on seeing Ohtani playing across town.

But the Rangers have five, and that would at least qualify them to start a conversation with the Angels if they were so inclined.

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You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

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