MLB Network analyst says Shohei Ohtani could get traded to Braves in the wildest second-half prediction

So you’re saying there’s a chance …

Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos has worked some magic with trades in recent years. Last season, he rebuilt Atlanta’s outfield on the fly after Ronald Acuña Jr.’s injury, adding Jorge Soler, Joc Pederson, Adam Duvall and Eddie Rosario. All those additions helped carry the Braves to their first World Series title since 1995.

As astoundingly successful as those moves were last season, Anthopoulos is not an actual magician. MLB Network’s Dan Plesac must have other ideas, though.

In a segment after the All-Star Game, MLB Network had Plesac offer a “bold” prediction for the second half of the season. His prediction was that the Angels would trade Shohei Ohtani to the Braves for, uh, “payroll flexibility.”

The Angels’ issues are well documented. They spent big on a terrible contract to Anthony Rendon. They have Mike Trout on a monster $426.5 million contract all while having no rotation depth and holes throughout the lineup. Plus, they’re going to have to pay Ohtani big money pretty soon — he’s a free agent after the 2023 season.

But Ohtani is one of the few pieces you’d keep around to get the Angels out of their soon-to-be-eight-year playoff drought. He’s a generational talent, a true two-way star.

I know they asked Plesac for a “bold prediction,” but MLB Network had to mean give us something within the realm of possibility. It’s like saying, “Bold prediction! The Chiefs will trade Patrick Mahomes to the Raiders.” Yeah, no. The Braves would have to offer entire minor-league affiliates, and it still wouldn’t be enough.

That being said, Braves fans did enjoy the prediction.