What happened: The Los Angeles Dodgers face external pressure to consider trading Shohei Ohtani this offseason if he insists on continuing to pitch after his 2026 injury troubles, per Yahoo Sports. Despite that push, the Dodgers still expect Ohtani to return to the mound next season without undergoing surgery.

Why it matters: Ohtani missed second-half pitching starts following a June injury exit and a July knee issue before rejoining the batting order in September. After an October postseason exit, Los Angeles must weigh protecting his offensive production against the recurring physical toll of a two-way workload.

What to watch: Watch for the Dodgers to outline Ohtani's offseason throwing program and rotation role ahead of spring training.