The Los Angeles Dodgers have their hands full with the San Diego Padres surging their way. They just won over the Giants and took over the lead in the division. LA, meanwhile, is having a little of a slump that even Dave Roberts might agree to. The last thing they needed was another distraction. But, well, only if things were so simple in the baseball world. So, it turns out the face of the franchise, Shohei Ohtani, is linked to a $240 million Hawaii luxury real estate lawsuit. And sure, it is an off-the-field problem, but it doesn’t take time to have ripple effects.

According to The Associated Press, Ohtani and his agent, Nez Balelo, are being sued by the real estate investor and a broker who was removed from the luxury housing developed on the Hapuna Coast of the Mauna Kea Resort. Ohtani had purchased one of the homes for about $17 million and was brought in for his celebrity and promotional value.

The lawsuit alleged interference and enrichment and claimed that Balelo pushed for extra perks until the developer and broker were forced out. Now, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, which is the company overseeing this project, has dismissed all these accusations, calling them “without merit” in a statement to SI. They said that they alone decided to remove Hayes and Matsumoto, and the project to date remains “world class.” But what does this mean for Ohtani?

For Shohei Ohtani, this is the second time that his name has been linked to headlines he would rather stay away from. Last season, he had to deal with a high-profile gambling scandal that involved Ippei Mizuhara, his interpreter. He had later pleaded guilty to stealing millions from the Dodger star. If you are worried, though, that this setback will unsettle Ohtani’s psyche, then you might be wrong. Last time, too, he managed the MVP without a problem, and Travis Rodgers thinks this won’t faze him either. He added, “This feels a little less toxic to me simply because it sounds like a civil matter, not a criminal matter like it was with Ippei Mizuhara, who stole millions of dollars from Shohei Ohtani and is going to jail because of that. This is a disagreement over a development plan—from my understanding, a development deal where somebody got squeezed out and didn’t like it. This has nothing to do with Ohtani the ballplayer or the Dodgers as an organization.”

Even fellow analyst Harry Ruiz pointed out that Ohtani’s role in Hawaii seems limited to him lending his face, something that he has done for several companies. This year alone, he will earn $100 million just via that. Ruiz compared his fame to global names like Lionel Messi, LeBron James, and even Ronaldo. And how some businesses prey on celebs like him. For now, though, it looks like a civil dispute over a property. Rich people building fancy houses is the issue, as Rodgers put it, but not anything that affects Ohtani’s play or the Los Angeles Dodgers clubhouse.

For now, Ohtani and Co. are busy navigating how to take on San Diego.

Should Shohei Ohtani be a starter or closer for the Dodgers?

Shohei Ohtani’s return to the mound has been everything that the Los Angeles Dodgers fans had hoped for. Everything from the command to electricity needed is there. His ERA too stands at 2.37, and hence it’s great. However, a new set of questions has made it into the rounds. Should the two-way superstar stay in the rotation, or could he just close out games and be valuable that way?

Dave Roberts was asked the same, and he was not shy to express his feelings. Sure, he loves the idea of Ohtani just closing the door in the ninth. But right now the team, according to Roberts, needs him to chew up the innings. Given that the Dodgers are in a little slump, it also makes sense. Roberts told reporters. “I love watching Shohei the closer. It was great. I also like Shohei’s five innings. So we’ll see. I mean, I think Shohei wants to win. He’s made that very clear. Whatever he can do to help us win a championship, he’s willing to do it. So right now we need him to pitch innings.” And it makes sense in a way, given that the Dodgers’ bullpen has been riddled with injuries.

Meanwhile, their rotations could still be stacked again, thanks to a few arms that are getting healthy. And this is where the speculation also heats up. David Ortiz just floated the idea that Ohtani could be the ultimate high-leverage weapon if his stuff could be used in short bursts. It’s not wishful thinking, and Ohtani has proven that he can handle the closer role. If you don’t believe me, ask Mike Trout. Back in the 2023 WBC, with Japan’s title on the line, Ohtani struck out his Angels teammate to get the championship title.

That moment is proof that Ohtani can indeed survive under maximum pressure, and it has stuck in the fans’ minds over time. So, starter or closer? For the fans, Roberts is keeping Ohtani put right where he is.