Shohei Ohtani is still unlikely to be traded at the deadline, even with his pending free agency and the Angels falling out of the race in the wake of Mike Trout's hand injury.
Still, even in the event that the Halos front office announced that the two-way superstar was for sale, Sal says the Mets and Yankees would be foolish to take the bait, rather than waiting to pounce this winter.
"The dumbest thing the Mets or Yankees could do is trade for Shohei Ohtani," Sal said. "I understand what type of star he is and what he's going to command in the offseason. Both of these teams should be all in on Shohei…when a player like that becomes available, you do whatever you can to go get him. However, you don't do that at the trade deadline."
Ohtani is set to sign a bigger contract than any other player in baseball history, and is arguably the most transcendent talent in the sport's history. With that in mind, the prospect demand for Ohtani will be massive, even with his upcoming free agency, and with the Yanks and Mets both currently out of a playoff spot, emptying the farm to get Ohtani three months earlier would be nonsensical.
"Here's the bottom line," Sal said. "If I'm the Angels and I call the Yankees, and the first name out of your mouth isn't Anthony Volpe, you're done. Go across town. If the first name out of Billy Eppler's mouth isn't Francisco Alvarez, you're done.
"There isn't a player in baseball I would trade Francisco Alvarez for. There isn't a player in baseball I would trade Anthony Volpe for."
Sal believes that both New York teams should be all in on Ohtani this winter, but as for this summer, they both would be wise to steer clear.
"The idea of even bringing it up is stupid," Sal said. "It would be the dumbest thing ever for either of these teams to go trade for Ohtani."
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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