Shohei Ohtani Likely to Remain with the Dodgers Even If the Franchise Is Sold

A source familiar with Shohei Ohtani’s thinking told ESPN that the two-way star would probably not trigger the “key man” opt-out clause in his contract should Los Angeles Dodgers ownership change. The source cited two primary reasons: Ohtani’s off-field earnings already exceed his on-field salary, and the Dodgers have fulfilled the player’s competitive and financial expectations since he joined in December 2023.

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Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million deal includes a provision that allows termination if specific executives—owner Mark Walter and baseball-operations president Andrew Friedman—are no longer with the club. The clause is intended to protect players from drastic organizational shifts. Ohtani agreed to defer all but $20 million of his contract, a move that underscores his willingness to prioritize team stability over maximizing immediate earnings.

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In the weeks preceding the Ohtani comments, Walter sold his stake in the Los Angeles Lakers for a reported $12.5 billion, a transaction that followed his earlier $10 billion purchase of the Lakers approved by the NBA in October 2025. The rapid sale sparked speculation that Walter might also divest the Dodgers, especially amid a federal investigation into tax-related matters involving other companies under his control. However, sources emphasized that no plans to sell the Dodgers have been announced.

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Dodgers CEO Stan Kasten addressed reporters at Dodger Stadium, emphasizing that the Lakers sale is unrelated to the baseball franchise. He asserted that the organization’s operations and spending—making the Dodgers MLB’s highest-spending team—remain unaffected and that no changes are being contemplated.

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• “This is a Lakers story; it's not really a Dodgers story," Kasten told reporters.” — Stan Kasten, dodgers CEO

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