[OutsiderFan]

Few teams would trade for Ohtani absent his commitment to sign a longterm deal with that team. This will drive down what the Angels can get for him in a rental situation.

There are no "sign and trades" in MLB like the NBA, but I imagine something similar could effectively happen. I don't know the rules on MLB player contracts, but it seems a contract can be fashioned as part of a trade deal that would keep Ohtani off the open market after being traded to the team that takes him. Ohtani would of course have to agree to be traded to the team orchestrating this move and accept their contract terms, but when there is a will there is a way.

The Angels would have a big incentive to try facilitating such a deal, because they would increase their trade return if they did. If Ohtani, the Angels, and the acquiring team wanted this, they would find a way to make it happen. 

I have seen people on ESPN and MLB Network suggest the Giants are a possible landing spot for Ohtani. One even said selling Ohtani on hitting balls in McCovey Cove might have appeal to him. 

I'm sure the sports news business and social mediasphere will refrain from speculating on this topic over the next week, and only report things that are really happening...

[OutsiderFan]

Few teams would trade for Ohtani absent his commitment to sign a longterm deal with that team. This will drive down what the Angels can get for him in a rental situation.

There are no "sign and trades" in MLB like the NBA, but I imagine something similar could effectively happen. I don't know the rules on MLB player contracts, but it seems a contract can be fashioned as part of a trade deal that would keep Ohtani off the open market after being traded to the team that takes him. Ohtani would of course have to agree to be traded to the team orchestrating this move and accept their contract terms, but when there is a will there is a way.

The Angels would have a big incentive to try facilitating such a deal, because they would increase their trade return if they did. If Ohtani, the Angels, and the acquiring team wanted this, they would find a way to make it happen. 

I have seen people on ESPN and MLB Network suggest the Giants are a possible landing spot for Ohtani. One even said selling Ohtani on hitting balls in McCovey Cove might have appeal to him. 

I'm sure the sports news business and social mediasphere will refrain from speculating on this topic over the next week, and only report things that are really happening...