Dodgers’ World Series Miss Sparks Debate Over Ohtani’s Future

WHO:

MLB.com - Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said the club wants Josue De Paula to develop into a complete player defensively; manager Dave Roberts called him “a special hitter.”

MLB.com - De Paula is ranked the Dodgers’ top prospect and No. 4 overall by MLB Pipeline.

MLB.com - Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández could have a reduced role if De Paula establishes himself as an everyday left fielder.

MLB.com - Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Shohei Ohtani is expected to pitch in 2027; Ohtani said he would reassess his treatment and training program.

MLB.com - Scott Merkin authored the article about five offseason questions facing the White Sox.

MLB.com - White Sox general manager Chris Getz discussed pitcher Davis Martin’s calf discomfort and the team’s need for Luis Castillo to rebound.

MLB.com - White Sox prospect Caleb Bonemer said playing multiple positions could accelerate his path to the Major Leagues.

MLB.com - White Sox manager Will Venable was named Sporting News American League Manager of the Year, as voted by his peers.

Sportskeeda - Bill Plaschke, an MLB insider, commented on Shohei Ohtani’s future with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Fox News - An LA Times sports columnist wrote about Shohei Ohtani after the Dodgers’ loss.

WHAT:

MLB.com - De Paula reached base in half of 42 plate appearances during his September major-league stint, batting 10-for-31 (.323), with 11 walks and five strikeouts.

MLB.com - De Paula had two walks in three postseason pinch-hit appearances and played six innings in left field, recording one putout.

MLB.com - MLB Pipeline graded De Paula’s fielding tool at 40; the Dodgers believe he could become an above-average corner outfielder.

MLB.com - Ohtani hit 30 home runs with an .889 OPS and posted a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts. He did not pitch after July 3, and in the postseason batted 5-for-26 (.192), with one extra-base hit.

MLB.com - The Dodgers are considering whether Ohtani should begin 2027 outside the rotation and are planning how to balance his pitching and hitting workload to preserve his postseason readiness.

MLB.com - Sean Burke posted a 3.34 ERA and struck out 185 batters over 172 1/3 innings; Davis Martin and Anthony Kay are rotation options.

MLB.com - Luis Castillo recorded an 8.42 ERA in nine games, including six starts, before being shut down with a right shoulder impingement. His 2027 salary is $22.75 million.

MLB.com - Caleb Bonemer hit 37 home runs and played outfield for Double-A Birmingham and in the Arizona Fall League.

MLB.com - Munetaka Murakami joined the White Sox on a two-year, $34 million contract; the team has held extension talks with him.

MLB.com - Venable guided the White Sox to an 84-78 record and an AL playoff berth. Chicago swept Houston in the Wild Card Series, then lost to Cleveland in five games in the Division Series.

MLB.com - Chicago improved its win total from 60 to 84, after going 41-121 in 2024. The White Sox became the first MLB team to reach the postseason after losing at least 100 games in each of the two preceding seasons.

MLB.com - Venable became the third MLB manager to oversee a 19-plus-win improvement in consecutive seasons, joining Miller Huggins and John McGraw.

Sportskeeda - The Dodgers said Ohtani will not need surgery on his left knee or right arm.

Sportskeeda - Plaschke said the Dodgers should stop using Ohtani as a pitcher and consider trading him if he refuses to give up pitching.

Fox News - The columnist argued that Ohtani should stop pitching or the Dodgers should trade him.

Fox News - The Milwaukee Brewers swept the Dodgers, who fell short of reaching the World Series.

WHERE:

MLB.com - The White Sox prospects Caleb Bonemer and Billy Carlson played in the Arizona Fall League; Bonemer also played for Double-A Birmingham.

Sportskeeda - The Los Angeles Dodgers are the team discussed.

Fox News - The Dodgers’ World Series pursuit and the Brewers’ sweep are discussed in connection with the Dodgers.

WHEN:

Sportskeeda - The Dodgers announced the surgery decision at their end-of-season news conference on Wednesday.

WHY:

MLB.com - The Dodgers say De Paula’s defensive development could help the team get younger and could affect Hernández’s role or lead the club to seek a trade partner for him.

MLB.com - Friedman said the Dodgers need to coordinate Ohtani’s workload because his injuries affected his 2026 season and the team wants him to be ready for a deep postseason run.

MLB.com - The White Sox used Sean Burke as their only playoff starter because the team leaned on its dominant bullpen.

MLB.com - Getz said Martin’s right calf discomfort hindered him late in the season.

Fox News - The columnist’s comments followed the Brewers’ sweep of the Dodgers.

The Dodgers are weighing Shohei Ohtani’s future as a pitcher after injuries disrupted his season and the team was swept by Milwaukee before reaching the World Series. President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman expects Ohtani to pitch in 2027, but the club is considering whether he should start outside the rotation and how to preserve his postseason readiness. Ohtani said he would reassess his treatment and training, and the Dodgers say he will not need surgery on his left knee or right arm. Meanwhile, top prospect Josue De Paula impressed at the plate, reaching base in half his appearances during a September stint, though the Dodgers want him to improve defensively. His emergence could reduce Teoscar Hernández’s role. The White Sox finished 84-78 and reached the playoffs under manager Will Venable, who was named American League Manager of the Year.