Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney Pack of 7: What's the Deal with the Dodgers?; Will Judge Be October Ready?
11 snips
Aug 21, 2026 Jorge Castillo, ESPN baseball reporter who breaks down Dodgers ownership, Mark Walter, and Shohei Ohtani’s leverage. Paul Ambekidis, analytic on-air personality who dissects the AL wildcard chaos, replay improvements, and standout player seasons. They debate why the Dodgers are all-in now, Ohtani’s contract timing, injury impacts on October readiness, and MLB’s challenge system tweaks.
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Dodgers Advantages Extend Beyond Player Payroll
- Jorge Castillo argues the Dodgers' advantages go beyond payroll to operations like R&D, travel, and minor-league support.
- He notes the Dodgers are the only team with two planes and heavy investment in player development and travel logistics.
Otani Should Use November To Seek Better Terms
- Buster and Jorge suggest Shohei Ohtani should consider opting out or using the offseason to demand more up‑front money before any salary‑cap changes.
- They recommend making noise in November so any new deal would grandfather before potential CBA changes.
Max Fried Injury Raises Yankees World Series Risk
- Jorge Castillo frames Max Fried's IL stint as a real World Series worry for the Yankees because they need frontline starters.
- Fried was given an $180+ million deal to be a top rotation piece and his health heavily influences New York's October outlook.
