U.S. media makes bold claim: "Two-way player Shohei Ohtani is a disaster; he must be banned from pitching → If he refuses, trade him"

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As the LA Dodgers failed to win three consecutive World Series titles and entered a period of roster restructuring, a radical argument has emerged from prominent local media that the franchise's star player Shohei Ohtani (32) should be permanently forced to stop playing both pitcher and batter. Extreme voices have even suggested that if Ohtani refuses, the team should proceed with a trade.

Bill Plashke, a columnist for the U.S.-based Los Angeles Times, took aim at the issue in an article published on the 22nd (Korean time), stating, "The Dodgers face only one real obstacle during the offseason. It is the $700 million obstacle known as the Shohei Ohtani problem."

Plashke fired a direct shot at Ohtani, describing him as "the greatest player in Dodgers history and simultaneously their biggest headache; incredibly attractive, yet stubborn to the point of being unyielding." The column acknowledged that Ohtani earned four MVP awards and the title of the greatest player ever due to his ability to perform as both a pitcher and a batter, and that his astronomical 10-year, $700 million (925.1 billion won) contract transformed the Dodgers into Major League Baseball's top revenue-generating franchise.

However, Plashke raised his voice, saying "It is enough now" and urging the team to face reality. "Ohtani is now 32 years old. The fatigue accumulated over 13 professional seasons is weighing down his 6-foot-4-inch frame. Overexertion on the pitcher's mound has exhausted him and distracted him, and ultimately, the effort to fix his pitching led to the collapse of his swing mechanics at the plate, dashing the Dodgers' bid for a three-peat," he pointed out.

This season, Ohtani started all 14 of his appearances, posting an impressive record of 8 wins and 2 losses with an ERA of 1.79. However, he suffered severe pain in his left knee and right biceps among other areas during the mid-season and stepped away from the mound after July 3. Plashke sharply criticized the team, stating, "The organization should have stopped him completely in July. But they succumbed to the superstar's stubbornness to continue the unicorn fantasy, which was the worst mistake in franchise history, ruining an entire season."

Ultimately, Ohtani, who had been focused on preparing for a return to the mound, lost his batting balance as well, leaving behind a dismal record of a .192 batting average (5 hits in 26 at-bats, 1 home run) in this postseason.

Plashke looked back on the Dodgers' past glories and emphasized, "The two previous World Series titles won by the Dodgers were achieved on the shoulders of 'batter Ohtani,' not 'pitcher Ohtani.'" In fact, Ohtani did not pitch at all in the 2024 postseason, and although he started four games with an ERA of 4.43 in the 2025 fall classic, the Dodgers still lifted the championship trophy. The argument is that what the Dodgers desperately need is only Ohtani holding a bat at the plate against opposing hitters, not Ohtani throwing balls from the mound.

Dodgers President Andrew Friedman also officially supported him at the post-season press conference held on the same day, stating, "We are looking forward to Ohtani pitching, and his value is enormous." Ohtani himself, in an interview immediately after the sweep loss, did not waver from his intention to review a pitcher training program when asked about the possibility of returning as a pitcher next season, saying through an interpreter, "It will definitely happen."

However, Plashke dismissed concerns by stating, "There is no cure for age, and no training method for accumulated innings," demanding a decisive action from the organization. He argued, "Trading Ohtani could be the dumbest move since the Boston Red Sox sold Babe Ruth, and I know he has a full trade veto right. But if he insists on the mound to the point of eroding the entire team lineup, the organization must bring out other options. They should tell him, 'Make a decision for the team, or leave LA.'"

He continued, "If they guarantee him a corner outfield position in exchange for completely giving up the mound, Ohtani may have room to compromise," concluding with a strong statement: "Two-way player Ohtani has now become a 'one-way ticket to disaster.' If he does not accept this reality, the Dodgers must buy him a one-way ticket (trade) out of LA."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original