The Los Angeles Dodgers are heading into an offseason of much-needed rest and roster adjustments, but one significant challenge looms large: Shohei Ohtani. He is both their best player and, according to observers, their biggest pain.
This particular obstacle is a $700-million proposition with expansive implications, touching everything from international sponsorships to stadium tours. Ohtani, known for his ability to hit and pitch with equal prowess, has earned four MVP awards and a reputation as one of baseball's greatest players. His 10-year, $700-million contract with the Dodgers was based on this unique duality, transforming the organization into a global money machine and helping lead them to two World Series championships.
However, three seasons into his tenure, Ohtani is changing. At 32, with 13 seasons of professional baseball, his body and skills are showing the strain. His pitching, in particular, is noted as hurting him, distracting him, and exhausting him. Attempts to maintain his pitching performance have reportedly led to a "badly broken swing" at the plate, which some speculate may have contributed to the Dodgers' failure to secure a three-peat this past season.
The past season offered "unassailable proof" that Ohtani can no longer serve effectively as both a full-time hitter and full-time pitcher. While he recorded an impressive 8-2 record with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts this year, his body began breaking down around midseason with issues in his left knee and right biceps. He stopped pitching on July 3 but continued efforts to return to the mound, even as his hitting declined from the constant physical exertion.
The Dodgers, it’s suggested, "should have shut him down in July" and not allowed him back until fully healed. Instead, the organization "bowed to the wishes of their superstar," allowing him to continue his two-way pursuit despite clear signs of age and wear. This decision is called an "organizational mistake" that "arguably cost them their season." He was eventually placed on the injured list in September, pulled from pitching and the lineup. He did not pitch again, and his hitting suffered, batting just .192 in the postseason with four singles and one home run.
Despite the challenges, Ohtani remains firm in his commitment to pitching. Immediately after the Game 4 sweep by the Milwaukee Brewers last week, he told reporters through interpreter Will Ireton, "Yes, definitely," when asked about pitching next season. He also expressed dissatisfaction with how his pitching shaped up at the end of the year, stating he would "go back to the drawing board in terms of treatment, training program" to prepare for next season.
Publicly, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman continues to back Ohtani as a pitcher. At his postseason news conference on Wednesday, Friedman told reporters that he was "excited about him pitching" and expected him to do so. Friedman acknowledged the "incredible" value Ohtani brings as a two-way player, adding that it was "incumbent on all of us to figure out" the best path forward. However, when pressed on whether a pitcher of Ohtani's age could sustain a full season as a two-way player through the postseason, Friedman admitted, "I don’t know the answer to that." He described the challenge of managing Ohtani through a long season to ensure he is "at his best going into October."
The Dodgers have, in fact, proven they can win without Ohtani pitching. He did not pitch in the 2024 postseason, and in the 2025 postseason, he recorded a 4.43 ERA in four starts. Yet, the team won both World Series championships in those years, largely on the shoulders of Ohtani the hitter. His ability to create "chaos at the top of the order" is seen as crucial for the team.
The fundamental issue, according to the source material, is that the Dodgers desperately need Ohtani's hitting, not necessarily his pitching. However, being a two-way player is not just how he made his fortune; it's how he views his identity. The challenge for the Dodgers now is to convince their superstar that his long-term value, and the team's best chance at winning, lies in his bat alone. His own father even hinted at this in an open letter about his son after last season. The team faces a complex negotiation of talent, identity, and strategy as they look to reshape their roster for the seasons ahead.
