Shohei Ohtani injuries spark Dodgers deadline debate on MSN podcast

Shohei Ohtani’s balky knee and Will Smith’s oblique strain are forcing the Los Angeles Dodgers to re-evaluate their deadline posture after a 17 July podcast aired on MSN. The timing couldn’t be worse: the club sits just 2.5 games back in the NL West and the trade deadline looms in 10 days.

What happened on the MSN podcast?

On 17 July, the MSN-hosted Dodgers Post podcast devoted its latest episode to the club’s two biggest injuries. Hosts unpacked how Ohtani’s right knee soreness-first reported on 12 July-could limit his availability at DH and first base. Will Smith’s oblique strain, diagnosed on 14 July, adds another layer of uncertainty behind the plate. The show’s guests argued the injuries may tilt the Dodgers toward buyers rather than sellers, despite their thin farm system.

Why it matters for Shohei Ohtani

Ohtani’s two-way workload already ranks among the game’s heaviest. A knee issue that flared in late June flared again in St. Louis on 10 July, when he went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. Smith, the All-Star catcher, exited a 13 July game after fouling a ball off his side and has missed four straight contests. Together, the pair anchor the Dodgers’ offense and defense. If either misses extended time, the club’s already-slim margin in the division tightens further.

What comes next?

The Dodgers next host the Padres on 19 July before a three-game set in San Francisco starting 22 July. Manager Dave Roberts told reporters on 18 July that both players are day-to-day, but he declined to set a timetable. The trade deadline arrives on 31 July, leaving roughly two weeks for Ohtani and Smith to show progress-or for the front office to recalibrate its approach. Speculation already swirls around a potential bullpen arm or corner bat, but the club’s own injury cloud complicates any clear path.