Angels in ‘listening mode’ on potential Shohei Ohtani commerce provides as deadline nears

The shadow sweepstakes for Shohei Ohtani have been underway for a while.

Now it seems to be as if it’ll come into the sunshine.

The Angels are in “listening mode” on commerce proposals for the two-way megastar, MLB Community’s Jon Morosi reported Saturday, including that groups have to be prepared to supply a number of top-100 prospects.

A commerce remains to be thought-about unlikely, Morosi added, however as The Post’s Jon Heyman previously reported, the Angels are transferring away from their no-sell stance, as they fell beneath .500 previous to the All-Star break.

Ohtani is properly on his option to a second MVP award, as he leads baseball in slugging proportion (.659), OPS (1.046) and residential runs (32) whereas additionally placing collectively a park-adjusted ERA 26 p.c above league common.

It’s on track to be one of many biggest single seasons in league historical past, and Ohtani is entrenching himself as one of many nice gamers of this period.

The best-hander did exit a start Friday early due to finger pain, and he’s handled a blister and cracked fingernail for a handful of begins.

However these are unlikely to grow to be long-term points.

The Angels, nevertheless, should think about their very own lack of success in addition to the truth that Ohtani might be a free agent following this season and will stroll away at no cost.

It’s not totally clear what the 29-year-old will command as a free agent, solely that it is going to be an infinite sum of cash — maybe one of many greatest contracts within the sport’s historical past.

The Dodgers, Padres, Yankees and Mets are among the many groups which were linked with a possible Ohtani deal. 

Angels proprietor Arte Moreno has proven reticence over dealing Ohtani up to now, and Heyman reported final week that individuals who know Moreno say they nonetheless don’t assume he would achieve this.

However because the Angels proceed to slide down the standings, the chance have to be thought-about if they don’t imagine he’ll re-sign.

Even for just a few months of Ohtani’s providers, the value tag can be huge, and a possible commerce would be the greatest story within the sport from now till the August 1 deadline.