Reds Relic Report: Terry Francona doesn’t need to weigh in on Dodgers loophole for the point to land

Welcome back to the Reds Relic Report where some of the most hotly-debated topics centered around Cincinnati Reds baseball are discussed, but with an antiquated (and correct) point of view.

The Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers won't even meet until the final month of the 2026 season. The Reds visit Chavez Ravine for three games from September 7-9, and then the Dodgers fly east to Cincinnati for a four-game series at Great American Ball Park from September 14-17.

If Shohei Ohtani is active for the series, the Dodgers will have an unfair advantage thanks to the rule that bears his name. Unlike Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell, Reds' skipper Terry Francona hasn't spoken on the matter. But it's safe to assume he feels the same way as his NL Central cohort.

In case you missed it, Counsell voiced his displeasure earlier this week with regard to what's referred to as the 'Shohei Ohtani rule'. Counsell called LA's ability to keep an extra pitcher on the roster "bizarre" and cited the "special consideration" the Dodgers receive because of it.

For those unaware, the Ohtani Rule allows qualified players to pitch and not count toward the active roster’s pitcher. Those players must've pitched in at least 20 Major League innings the year prior and started at least 20 Major League games as a position player (or DH) with at least three plate appearances in those games. So to be clear, the Dodgers aren't breaking any rules. But that doesn't make it right.

“There’s not another player like that, but one team gets different rules for that player,” Counsell told Patrick Mooney of The Athletic (subscription required).

Reds manager Terry Francona would surely echo Craig Counsell's comments, right?

Far be it from me as a Reds fan to take up for the Cubs' manager in this instance, but Counsell is 100% correct. The Dodgers already have an advantage over every other Major League ball club thanks to the tax exemption included in their TV deal. They've also deferred millions of dollars into the future thanks to their creative contract structure. And on top of all that, they get to carry an extra pitcher? It's preposterous.

Plenty of baseball fans have criticized Counsell for his comments, claiming that he's just upset the Cubs couldn't afford to sign Ohtani when he was a free agent. While there's surely a measure of jealousy baked into his comments, it doesn't mean they're untrue.

There's a lot of different ways to look at the advantages the Dodgers have with Ohtani on the roster. Since he has that two-way player exemption, LA can carry an extra pitcher which gives them a distinct advantage — not just with in-game management — but roster management as well.

That extra pitcher can be optioned, DFA'd, released, etc. Imagine what the Reds could do if they burning through a reliever or two after a starter struggled to go four innings. Rather than optioning a reliever or two back to Triple-A in order to give some length to the bullpen, they've already got an extra fresh arm sitting in the bullpen ready to go.

As for the in-game strategy, that adds another layer to the conversation. Even on days when Ohtani's pitching, once he's removed from the game and replaced by a reliever, he still maintains his spot in the Dodgers lineup — this rule was amended in 2022. But if another team uses their DH to replace a position player on defense, his team loses the DH and that spot in the lineup is replaced by the pitcher. Do you see how ridiculous this rule is for just one player?

Ohtani is the only player currently — a likely for the foreseeable future — who benefits from this rule. Meaning there's only one team who benefits from this rule, and that the Dodgers. While no other team is barred from finding their own two-way player, everyone agrees that Ohtani is a unicorn. There've been a handful of two-way experiments in recent years — even the Reds tried to do it with Sheng-En Lin, but he's since become a full-time pitcher.

Counsell was right to speak out about this nonsense. There's no way other managers don't share Counsell's frustrations, and another veteran voice Francona's could help move the conversation forward. While no one's asked Tito for his opinion on the matter, his response feels obvious, doesn't it?

Thanks to deferrals, Ohtani's making $2 million per year. The Dodgers don't need any extra help.

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