As the 2025 Major League Baseball season intensifies, teams are grappling with legal disputes and player injuries that could significantly impact their postseason aspirations.

In a notable legal development, Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his agent, Nez Balelo, are seeking to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Hawaii developer Kevin Hayes Sr. and broker Tomoko Matsumoto. The lawsuit alleges that Ohtani and Balelo caused their removal from a $240 million luxury real estate project on Hawaii’s Hapuna Coast. In response, Ohtani’s legal team asserts that the plaintiffs misused Ohtani’s name, image, and likeness without permission or payment, using his celebrity status to promote an unrelated project. They describe Ohtani as a victim of NIL violations and contend that Balelo acted within his rights by objecting to the misuse. The development’s main partner, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, previously dismissed the lawsuit’s claims as baseless. Ohtani, recently a three-time MVP and member of the World Series-winning Dodgers, argues that the legal action is a deflection from the plaintiffs' own failings. Lawyers for Hayes and Matsumoto have not commented.

On the field, the Atlanta Braves have suffered a significant setback with the news that catcher Sean Murphy will miss the remainder of the 2025 MLB season due to a right hip labral tear. The injury, which has been an ongoing issue for Murphy over the past three years, will require surgery to be performed by Dr. Thomas Byrd in Nashville. Braves president Alex Anthopoulos expressed optimism about Murphy's recovery, suggesting he could return without restrictions for spring training and possibly rejoin the 26-man roster next season. Murphy, 30, has struggled with injuries since his All-Star debut with the Braves in 2023. Despite hitting 16 home runs this season, his performance declined late in the year, ending with a .199 batting average. Rookie catcher Drake Baldwin, with 15 home runs and 63 RBIs in 106 games, will assume a larger role. Additionally, veteran catcher Sandy Leon has been promoted from Triple-A Gwinnett to support the team as it starts a series against the Cubs.

In St. Louis, Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras has returned to the team after serving a four-game suspension resulting from an incident on August 25 during a home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Contreras was originally suspended for six games, but the penalty was reduced after an appeal. During the incident, he was ejected after arguing with umpire Derek Thomas, making physical contact with the umpire, and using foul language. His frustration escalated as he was restrained by manager Oliver Marmol and hitting coach Brant Brown. Contreras then threw his helmet and bat—accidentally striking Brown—and later tossed bubble gum from the dugout. The Cardinals posted a 2-2 record in his absence. The 33-year-old catcher is hitting .254 with 20 home runs and a personal best of 78 RBIs in 130 games this season. A three-time All-Star during his earlier tenure with the Chicago Cubs, Contreras holds a career average of .257 with 172 home runs and 546 RBIs across 1,073 games.

The Chicago Cubs have also been affected by player injuries, as All-Star right fielder Kyle Tucker has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a strained left calf, with the move retroactive to September 6. Tucker has been out of games since September 2 and is eligible to return on September 16. Cubs manager Craig Counsell noted that Tucker experienced a setback after previously showing some improvement, prompting the team to give him more recovery time. Tucker, who joined the Cubs after seven seasons with the Houston Astros, is hitting .270 with a team-leading .854 OPS and has 22 home runs. In response to his absence, the Cubs have recalled catcher Moisés Ballesteros from Triple-A Iowa.

These developments underscore the challenges MLB teams face as they navigate the final stretch of the regular season. With the postseason on the horizon, the ability to manage legal issues and player health will be crucial for teams aiming for a deep playoff run.