Why Dodgers face a 'delicate' situation with their Japanese stars ahead of the WBC

"As of now, Dodgers front office officials said at this week's Winter Meetings, no final decisions have been made about whether Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki will participate in the tournament, nor if Shohei Ohtani (who has already confirmed his participation) will pitch in addition to hitting. "We're still working through that," said president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, who met with Team Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata at the Signia by Hilton Orlando this week."

"What would be most helpful to the Dodgers, of course, is if none of their three star Japanese stars pitch in next spring's international tournament. Each of them shouldered a heavy burden during last year's postseason, from Sasaki's nine appearances out of the bullpen to Ohtani's four starts in a two-way role to Yamamoto's playoff-leading 37 ⅓ innings (the final 8 ⅔ of which came on back-to-back days in Games 6 and 7 of the World Series) most of all."

"The 2026 World Baseball Classic begins in less than three months. Between now and then, the Dodgers will have to have some "delicate" conversations with their star trio of Japanese pitchers. As of now, Dodgers front office officials said at this week's Winter Meetings, no final decisions have been made about whether Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki will participate in the tournament, nor if Shohei Ohtani (who has already confirmed his participation) will pitch in addition to hitting."

Dodgers will hold delicate conversations with Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki about participation in the March 2026 World Baseball Classic, with fewer than three months until the tournament begins. No final decisions have been made about Yamamoto's or Sasaki's participation, or whether Ohtani will both hit and pitch. Dodgers leadership expressed support for Samurai Japan while emphasizing open communication and mutual respect. The Dodgers seek to protect their pitchers after heavy postseason workloads — including Sasaki's nine relief appearances, Ohtani's four two-way starts, and Yamamoto's playoff-leading 37 1/3 innings — and consider extra rest before 2026.

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