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Despite Shohei Ohtani being shut down from pitching indefinitely and Will Smith still working through an inflamed neck, the Dodgers’ trade deadline plans are reportedly not being altered by either injury, per staff at DodgerBlue.com. That’s a notable contrast to earlier speculation that Smith’s situation in particular could reshape the front office’s approach ahead of the August 5 deadline.

Ohtani’s pitching absence is the bigger headline. He was scratched from his Wednesday start last week and subsequently dropped from the rotation with no clear return timeline, all tied to persistent left knee trouble. As a hitter, Ohtani continues to be one of the most dangerous bats in baseball — he entered the All-Star break slashing well above league average with 30-plus home runs on the season. But losing his arm, even temporarily, takes away one of the most unique competitive advantages any team has ever had. The Dodgers were already cautious with his pitching workload following Tommy John surgery, and the knee issue has only deepened that caution. For now, he’s a full-time DH, and the rotation has to absorb the loss.

Smith’s neck inflammation has kept him out of the lineup for stretches, raising questions about whether the Dodgers might pursue catching depth at the deadline. Smith has been one of the better offensive catchers in the National League for several years now, and his absence creates a real hole — not just behind the plate defensively, but in the middle of the lineup. Earlier reports floated the idea that his slow recovery could push the front office to pivot, but this latest reporting suggests they’re comfortable with the internal options and aren’t scrambling to add a backstop.

The Dodgers sitting atop the NL West with a comfortable lead gives Andrew Friedman and the front office the luxury of patience. They don’t need to make a panic move. The rotation, even without Ohtani on the mound, still features Yoshinobu Yamamoto — who just threw a complete game to sweep the Yankees in a doubleheader — along with a deep stable of arms. The recent acquisition of Brock Halvorsen from Colorado added another arm to the pipeline.

I think the real takeaway here is that the Dodgers are going to be aggressive at the deadline regardless — they always are — but they’re not letting the injury situation dictate the strategy. The Ohtani pitching loss hurts, no question. But this front office has been building depth all season, and they clearly feel the roster can absorb these hits without a fundamental shift in approach. If a difference-making starter like Tarik Skubal becomes available (and we’ve already heard the Dodgers linked to him), that move makes sense with or without Ohtani on the mound. These injuries might add urgency, but the plan itself stays the same.

Source(s): Staff (DodgerBlue.com) | First reported: July 21, 2026 1:30 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers