The baseball world was jolted Saturday evening after viral social-media posts claimed that two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani had “terminated his contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers” only minutes earlier. Screenshots of an alleged press release spread rapidly across X, Instagram and click-bait blogs, sparking immediate panic among Dodger fans and a frenzy of hot-takes. Within half an hour, #Ohtani and #Dodgers were the two top-trending terms worldwide.
Where did the story originate?
The first shared link came from VickyLiveSports.com — an obscure site that had previously posted unverified “I’m leaving” stories about a variety of athletes. Two additional articles from Sportlands.co.uk and NewsStation2.com echoed the same headline, each citing unnamed “internal sources.” None of the three outlets provided documents, quotes from Ohtani’s agent Nez Balelo, or an official MLB transaction log.
Official silence — but telling activity
As of 11:45 p.m. PT (July 6, 2025), the Dodgers’ X account, MLB’s official transactions page and Ohtani’s own Instagram Stories remained unchanged. Meanwhile, MLB.com continued to promote Monday night’s televised broadcast of Ohtani’s long-awaited first pitching start for Los Angeles, strongly suggesting that no contractual rupture had occurred.
Why the rumor feels plausible
Because Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million agreement contains an opt-out clause tied to ownership stability, speculation of an early exit has shadowed the deal since it was signed in December 2023. The unusual structure — only $2 million paid annually until 2034, with $680 million deferred — means that if Ohtani ever triggered the opt-out, L.A. would still owe the bulk of the money. That quirk has fueled click-bait narratives every time a minor controversy surfaces.
Fan reaction
Dodgers supporters packed bars around Chavez Ravine Saturday to watch the club’s road game against Houston, and many learned of the rumor on their phones. Some were reduced to tears, remembering how the franchise lost both Manny Ramírez (2010) and Zack Greinke (2015) to surprise departures. Others dismissed the reports outright, chanting “See you Monday, Sho-hei!” whenever the game broadcast replayed his batting-practice home run from the previous day.
Likely next steps
Insiders expect the Dodgers’ communications department to issue an official statement by Sunday morning if only to quash the wildfire. Should the rumor prove false, the organization may push the tech platforms for faster labeling of fabricated press releases. If, against prevailing evidence, Ohtani has indeed exercised an opt-out, the league office would have to process the move before it becomes official; such paperwork almost never occurs “within minutes,” contrary to the viral claim.
Takeaway
At this hour the report remains unverified and inconsistent with all credible public indicators. Until MLB, the Dodgers, or Ohtani himself confirm a transaction, fans should view the termination rumor with extreme skepticism. The lesson is clear: in the era of social-media virality, even baseball’s brightest star can become the subject of a misinformation swing before the next pitch is thrown, for no substantive reason whatsoever.