No need for a crystal ball to predict a dream season for the Los Angeles Dodgers, because with yesterday’s addition of young gunner Roki Sasaki, the best team in major league baseball turns out to be the most improved heading into the next season, which will begin in the spring.
Oddsmakers have even changed the odds on the Dodgers ahead of the next World Series. Before the signing of the Japanese, it stood at +360, while it rose to +320 after the announcement of the young pitcher’s arrival in California. The defending champions are clear favorites before the season even begins and there is nothing very surprising about that.
Sasaki, 23, was the most coveted player after Juan Soto and his choice ultimately fell on the Los Angeles Dodgers, who beat (once again) the poor Toronto Blue Jays to the finish line. Surely this reminds you of the Shohei Ohtani epic last offseason?
Since yesterday’s announcement, comments from Jays fans have been lining social media with a certain frustration as a backdrop, and with good reason. From Ohtani last year, to Juan Soto this off-season, to the addition of Sasaki signing in Los Angeles, the level of frustration has continued to grow in Toronto and the team management will have to live with the negative effects of all these failed attempts over the last few months.
Among the Dodgers, despite the fires affecting the region, the sun is shining and the chances of seeing the team do it again in 2025, by becoming the champion team, are more than good. Dave Roberts will have almost two starting rotations on hand. He will be able to count on high-level athletes who have mastered the art of throwing with ease and style. Sasaki joins Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto who already formed (before his arrival) one of the very good rotations in the Majors. Now, this rotation can be described as irresistible and that’s without counting on the presence of Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin.
On the field, aside from Gavin Lux who was traded to the Cincinnati Reds, most of the players who popped the champagne in 2024 will be back and the team added South Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim, who wants an asset because of its versatility. The friendly Teoscar Hernandez also chose to stay with the Dodgers in order to fully experience the joys of victory.
Yes, several fans baseball players will want to see the Dodgers stumble during their 2025 run, either out of envy or simply to express their dissatisfaction with a team which, like a magnet, attracts exceptional players thanks to a well-stocked wallet and a principle of carryover in the time of sums due never equaled until now. The Dodgers are taking advantage of everything they can to win and the recipe seems good in their case.
The pitchers and catchers have not yet shown up in Florida and Arizona and already the Dodgers are the favorites to win another World Series. Dave Roberts will have to protect his teammates against the effects of a wakefulness coupled with excess confidence. With a locker room loaded with veterans, I’m not worried about the team’s readiness for the challenges ahead and guys like Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts will lead the way. As for Roki Sasaki, he arrives in an environment that already counts on the presence of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, an element that certainly helped tip the scales towards Los Angeles.
The Dodgers won’t be perfect in 2025, but they won’t give up too often and the Padres, Giants and Diamondbacks will have to redouble their efforts to take the National West title from them. A very good fight is expected within this division, to the great pleasure of the supporters.
2025-01-18 13:31:00