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Could Shohei Ohtani LEAVE the Dodgers?! Here’s What’s Really Going On

Flippin' Bats with Ben Verlander

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Could Shohei Ohtani actually leave the Dodgers? Reports surrounding Dodgers controlling owner Mark Walter have raised major questions about his financial empire, and because of a unique clause in Ohtani’s contract, Dodgers fans are wondering what it could mean for Shohei’s future in Los Angeles.

On this week’s This Week in Shohei Ohtani, I break down what’s actually happening with Walter, why this does NOT mean the Dodgers are broke, how Ohtani’s key man clause works, and what would have to happen for it to become relevant.

Plus, we have the latest on the NL MVP race between Ohtani and PCA, another big week at the plate for Shohei, and an encouraging pitching update as he continues working toward a potential return to the Dodgers rotation in September.

In this episode:
• What’s actually happening with Mark Walter
• Are the Dodgers in financial trouble?
• Could Ohtani’s contract clause allow him to leave?
• Why Ohtani’s deferred money isn’t suddenly at risk
• Shohei vs. PCA in the NL MVP race
• Ohtani’s latest offensive surge
• The latest on his return to pitching

Let's hear it... Who is YOUR NL MVP pick?

Timestamps:
0:00 Are the Dodgers in Trouble?
7:00 NL MVP Race
11:56 Shohei's Offensive Week
14:00 Latest Pitching News
15:40 Outro

#ShoheiOhtani #Dodgers #MLB #LosAngelesDodgers

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20 Comments

@FlippinBatsPod Creator 1 month ago Pinned

Let's hear it... Who Wins NL MVP?

@cyirm 1 month ago (edited)

Shohei Ohtani has re-defined what the MVP is.
PCA might be more valuable to the Cubs than Ohtani is to the Dodgers.
But, Ohtani is not only great for the Dodgers. He is great for all of baseball.

People who have never cared about baseball, who have never watched a game before, are watching Ohtani.
People in countries where baseball isn't even played are watching Ohtani.
When the Dodgers go on the road, the hosting team's advertising revenues go up by several million dollars from Japanese companies seeking to capitalize on Ohtani's popularity. These companies literally follow the Dodgers around the country buying ad space at every ball park they visit because the games are televised back in Japan.
PCA is a great player having a career year.
Shohei Ohtani is a global phenomenon the likes of which we have never seen before and may never see again.

@LoneRanger-kk4mi 1 month ago

Ohtani wins by a mile. Pitching is much harder than shagging fly balls.

@shigindia 1 month ago

I don't know who is winning NL MVP, but I'm sure it's very hard to find pitchers as good as Shohei. If he can pitch until the 5th or 6th innings in a couple more games, he should have a very good chance to win the MVP again.

@ThaiVue-z6g 2 weeks ago (edited)

People need to stop taking Othani for granted. He’s the best thing that’s happened for a long time. We love u Ben

@MadisonMark-v3k 1 month ago

Regardless of who currently owns or who will own the dodgers. The dodger franchise is top 5 highest valued sports team in the world.

@DM_Jimmy 1 month ago

I wonder of Walter's other companies loaned the Dodgers the money for the deferment.

@AestheticDelta 1 month ago

Here's one comparable: Ohtani is goalkeeping and also a top notch striker if he were playing soccer...but doing it in baseball

@peterk3474 1 month ago

People are confused by WAR. Just the fact that a pitcher can pitch major innings, win or lose, is a huge thing that fielders can't contribute.

@cesarbriones2419 1 month ago

IT WOULD BE THE SHREWDEST MOVES IF WE GOT THESE RINGS ON ENRON ECONOMICS
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
DODGERS OUTSMARTING ER-ONE
BUT EVEN MORE AMAZING IS THAT THE PLAYERS WANNA BE A PART OF IT TOO!!!!

@rkaylor5769 1 month ago

Astros: hold my beer.

@reginaldoyasay4593 1 month ago

Ohtani, if he was put in the field would be a gold glove and have elite defense but any GM would take an elite pitcher over an elite fielder

@PMorinaga 1 month ago

love Shohei. awesome yet humble. Dodgers Not broke. will not sell tremendous money maker. Walter owns 27% . prob is nondisclosure and fraud is Nondiscloure. Deff contracts Are binding legally !!! no matter who the owner is. Players will get paid.

@George-f8h 13 days ago (edited)

You misunderstood the story, Ben. Mark Walter isn't broke. He has plenty of money- his net worth is between $10 and 13 billion. He is in trouble for allegedly committing financial fraud. The government is investigating whether he used policyholders money from two insurance companies he owns to help fund the purchase of the Dodgers and possibly the Lakers too. In other words, he used other people's money to make investments for himself. If he is found guilty, he will likley be forced to sell his share of the Dodgers, pay back the shareholders with his own money, and pay huge fines. That's why he quickly sold off the Lakers. He's expecting the hammer to come down on him. So the issue isn't that he didn't disclose that he used policyholder money to make investments he benefited. It's the fact that he wasn't supposed to do that.

@livinb450 1 month ago

MVP? Just decide who you would want more? I love PCA, but it the sho you would pick based on this year,last year,,any year. 😅.. not one day PCA is more valuable

@mastersmmaandfitness7661 1 month ago

How many can bat and field ?

How many can bat and pitch at mlb level?

Please

@atlmswbko4394 1 month ago

Shohei Ohtani would never leave the Dodgers because they've already won 2 world series.

Now, only if Ohtani would do what he said he would do. He has said that he's willing to walk if he doesn't get good pitches. But it makes him look stupid when he strikes out too often (about 75%) on 3 or 4 way-off ball pitches when the count is 0-2 or 1-2. I really hope he doesn't do this very often during the playoffs. The Dodgers almost lost the other day (August 19, 2026), against the poor Rockies, because he struck out on 3 pitches 2 consecutive times.

@peterjin3549 1 month ago

How is it not a dodger problem currently when Walter attempted to sell the entire future TV revenue; 25 YEARS OF FUTURE REVENUE; (their largest source of income) for a lump sum payment up front to cover debts outside of the dodgers. This means that the money he has outside of the dodgers is not enough to pay his bills. He needs Dodgers' money to cover his bills outside of dodgers AND HE WAS TRYING TO GET IT AND USE IT. It is reported that even if he had successfully cashed out on the Dodger TV revenue, it STILL would not be enough! He is actively trying sell out the dodgers future and THAT ABSOLUTELY IS A DODGER PROBLEM, sir.

@addictedtoJB 1 month ago (edited)

You're thinking small. The guy is a MAJORITY owner. With his power, he can take out a loan and not begin payments til 5 years down the line. Or have a "repayment" plan of $1 per year. This is how the Dodgers have, seemingly, unlimited money; they don't care about the ramifications because there NONE.
Shohei hasn't even pitched half the season. He's pitched every 6th day for a long time, skipped starts, and was on the IL. PCA actually deserves it. He puts his body on the line every day. Give me a defender like PCA every fucking day.