The Los Angeles Angels had two different opportunities to cash in on superstar Shohei Ohtani before he left the club in free agency in December 2023. But owner Arte Moreno ultimately declined trade deadline deals with the San Diego Padres and Tampa Bay Rays that could have given the Angels some rising talent.

First, the Angels were reportedly discussing a trade deadline deal with the Padres during the 2022 season.

After Moreno turned down the trade, the Padres sent outfielder James Wood, shortstop CJ Abrams and left-hander MacKenzie Gore to the Washington National for Juan Soto. The Angels likely would have received a similar or better package, as All-Star center fielder Jackson Merrill was also reportedly in the mix, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.

Then, ahead of the 2023 trade deadline, the Angels were negotiating a deal with the Rays for Ohtani. This would have given the Angels third baseman Junior Caminero and shortstop Carson Williams.

At the time, Caminero was 19 years old in Double-A, while Williams was 20 years old in High-A. Caminero became an American League All-Star in 2025, and Williams was the minor league’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2024.

Moreno again declined the deal with the Rays. The Angels did not get much more out of Ohtani that season. He tore his UCL in his right elbow on Aug. 23 then was ruled out for the remainder of the season with an oblique strain on Sept. 3.

Three months later, Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Now, the Angels have the worst record across MLB this season and are on track for an 11th straight losing season.

If Moreno would have traded Ohtani to the Rays at the 2023 deadline, the Angels would have had an All-Star third baseman who could have replaced Anthony Rendon. Meanwhile, trading Ohtani to the Padres would have given the Angels multiple players who all became All-Stars in either the 2024 or 2025 season.

Photo Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

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