Billy Eppler made the important Shohei Ohtani phone call

To be a fly on the wall for that conversation or at least the federal agent listening through a wiretap. According to Jim Bowden, we had one of the most remarkable New York Mets rumors of all time take place.

It’s definitely a conversation Eppler had to have. Why not? He worked for the Los Angeles Angels before. He had a big part in bringing Ohtani to the ball club. He may have broken up with them but he didn’t lose their telephone number. Give this man the General Manager of the Year Award already if only because he isn’t afraid to make the awkward phone call.

Mets rumors: Checking in on Shohei Ohtani doesn’t mean he’s coming to New York

There are two kinds of Mets rumors to follow closely at this time of the year. There are those about David Robertson that have a ton of realism and possibility. Then there are these Mets rumors involving one of the most unique players the game has ever seen.

The Angels might be sinking but to trade Ohtani for anything short of a massive franchise overhaul on such short notice would be foolish. Maybe next year makes a little more sense if the team is out of the playoff hunt yet again and his free agency is approaching. Right now, it’s even more fantasy than landing Juan Soto.

This does raise an important question for Mets fans: which one would you rather have? Don’t say both. Let’s not be ridiculous.

It would be interesting to see what it would take to land Ohtani. The Angels aren’t in the middle of a rebuild like the Washington Nationals. They would probably want some big leaguers. We can speculate for days. Let’s not. Let’s just feel good today that step one of signing Ohtani in free agency has already taken place.

We know Steve Cohen loves his art. What better piece to add to his collection than the one-of-a-kind Shohei Ohtani?