Bill Plaschke's latest Shohei Ohtani take is his most outlandish and rage-baiting yet

Andrew Friedman, Brandon Gomes, and Shohei Ohtani have all confirmed, in no uncertain terms, that Ohtani will resume two-way duties for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2027.

They also insisted that he doesn't need surgery to address his knee or biceps issues, which is questionable, but it's not at all surprising that Ohtani is unwilling to give up pitching and that the Dodgers didn't ask him to. Everyone involved is hoping that 2026 will become a learning experience, both in terms of managing his workload and honest communication when he's not feeling 100%.

LA has a vested interest in helping him maintain his unicorn status. They have a surplus of starting pitchers and a surplus of bats who could serve as DH, but none of them are Shohei Ohtani. Nothing draws eyes to the sport quite as much as when he's allowed to do his thing.

Whether or not it's actually the best thing to do for Ohtani's body and the Dodgers' roster is going to be up for debate until he proves he can do both through an entire season. Is it foolish? Maybe. But it certainly isn't foolish enough to lend Bill Plaschke's latest take any credence.

"This past season offered unassailable proof that Shohei Ohtani can no longer serve as both a full-time hitter and full-time pitcher. The Dodgers have no choice but to act on this truth and make a decision that is not only best for this team, but the long-term future of the organization," he wrote. "They need to pull him off the pitching mound permanently. And if he insists on continuing this detrimental charade, they need to seriously consider trading him."

Bill Plaschke's plea for Dodgers to consider a Shohei Ohtani trade is the most ridiculous take fans have heard so far

Plaschke is not known as a Haver of Good Takes. At the height of the Mark Walter drama, he wrote that Ohtani could ask for a trade. In September 2024, he wrote that Ohtani could or should be the Dodgers "savior pitcher" in the postseason, just about a year removed from a UCL surgery. And this isn't limited to baseball; Plaschke has basically built his journalistic identity around making as many people as mad as possible.

The Dodgers will never trade Ohtani. Even if they wanted to, he has a full no-trade clause that Plaschke himself addresses within his article. The money the Dodgers have made and will continue to make off of his presence alone is enough incentive.

But Ohtani is the Dodgers. He's the face of baseball, which makes him the face of the franchise. Although Friedman has built a roster that's supposed to be able to succeed without him, he's the keystone.

Trading Ohtani because he refuses to give up pitching would be the Dodgers admitting defeat. The injury debacle this season showed that they won't be quick to do that, but shopping him would basically be the Dodgers saying that they didn't have what it takes to handle the best player in baseball. That's not the Dodgers Way. It's not the mentality any serious team should have.

The Dodgers absolutely need to learn how to put their foot down with Ohtani, and he needs to learn how to take no for an answer. But trading him? Beyond laughable.

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