The Los Angeles Angels announced on Tuesday that owner Arte Moreno has initiated a formal process to evaluate "strategic alternatives" involving the franchise, including a potential sale. Moreno, who has owned the Angels since buying the franchise from Disney in 2003 at the cost of $184 million, said the following as part of his statement:

"Although this difficult decision was entirely our choice and deserved a great deal of thoughtful consideration, my family and I have ultimately come to the conclusion that now is the time. Throughout this process, we will continue to run the franchise in the best interest of our fans, employees, players, and business partners." 

If Moreno's process does result in a sale, that development will have major repercussions throughout the league, in no small part because it could clear the way for a Shohei Ohtani trade. As CBS Sports reported last month, rival front offices believe that the biggest hurdle to an Ohtani trade would be getting Moreno to sign off on it; if he's out of the picture, the odds of an offseason deal would increase.

It's fair to wonder why an incoming owner would be OK trading one of the best players in baseball, but the situation is comparable to what the Washington Nationals faced this past deadline with Juan Soto. Ohtani, 28, is a year away from free agency, at which point he's certain to demand a massive contract. The new owner will already have several large obligations on the books, including those given to Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon, and will likely have to leverage themselves financially in order to complete the purchase. As a result, they may shy away from another big contract -- especially if they take a realistic view of where the Angels stand, competitively. 

The last point is crucial because Ohtani -- a two-way sensation and the reigning AL MVP -- has a say in where he'll play after next season. He's publicly stated that his top priority is to win games, making it possible -- if not downright probable -- that the Angels are far down on his list of preferred suitors.

Let's say that the next Angels owner accepts that reality, and that Ohtani is placed on the block this offseason. Just which teams are best positioned to land him in a trade? Here are five that jump to mind, presented below in perceived order of likelihood.