One would be hard-pressed to find a more complete team than the 2024 Los Angeles Dodgers who won the World Series. It just so happens that L.A.'s 2025 roster may include enough upgrades that will make this year's iteration even more dangerous.
New additions to the starting rotation and bullpen will complement a lineup filled with sluggers. Such a formula should place the Dodgers in prime position to compete for their second straight title. As long as the group from Chavez Ravine stays healthy, there is virtually no other club that boasts the same level of star power.
“Our guys haven’t achieved a dynasty yet,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said recently to The Athletic. “That’s what they want. And that’s a good thing.”
Dodgers 2025 MLB Season Preview: Health is the only potential obstacle
Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Shohei Ohtani's reputations precede them. Betts is a three-time champion with an MVP to his name. Freeman also has an MVP, and is coming off of a Fall Classic performance he will never forget. Ohtani is fresh off of his third MVP season and is arguably one the best players to ever grace the diamond.
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@MLB commissioner Rob Manfred tells @MadDogUnleashed the owners understand Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers offer a unique opportunity to market the league in Japan. pic.twitter.com/2Husya9Vx8
“When you have your superstars, the carrot is still there for our superstars,” Roberts said. “When we have that, there’s number one, no complacency. I think that every great team, great player, needs a carrot. They’re all different.”
It's easy to chalk up the Dodgers' offensive success to the presence of their big three, but others like Teoscar Hernandez, Will Smith, Max Muncy, and Tommy Edman help round out a lineup that can hurt opposing pitchers in a variety of ways. Even their season opener in Tokyo proved that the lineup could thrive by simply grinding out long plate appearances and being opportunistic with runners on base.
L.A.'s pitching may be even better than their offensive attack. They brought in Blake Snell and Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki. Other notable arms such as Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Dustin May are returning. Additionally, veteran southpaw Clayton Kershaw will be in the mix once he recovers from injury.
Of course, it is also probable that Ohtani will pitch this season. In 2023, he posted a 3.14 ERA through 23 starts and 132 innings. The 30-year-old would be a front end starter for the majority of MLB clubs, and it is possible he may be one of L.A.'s best options by the end of the season.
As if the Dodgers' rotation did not already strike fear into opposing bats, their bullpen is also elite. They signed Kirby Yates and Tanner Scott this offseason, and have other high-level relievers who can pitch under any circumstance.
Blake Treinen, Evan Phillips, Alex Vesia, and Michael Kopech are all the kind of pitchers who could close games if necessary. They have all shown an ability to pitch in high-leverage situations, and will surely make Roberts' job easier once a starter's day is done.
It is not hyperbole to say that Dodgers have assembled the game's best roster on paper in decades. If everything goes according to plan, they should right back in the Fall Classic. Even still, it does not seem as though they are getting ahead of themselves.
“Even if you have the best roster,” said Edman, “there’s still a chance that you run into someone that’s really hot."
Assuming L.A. stays healthy and keeps their eye on the prize, it would take a truly special team to take the crown away from them.