TALKING A BLUE STREAK
DESPITE WINNING a total of 211 games over the past two regular seasons, the Dodgers have looked awfully mortal in October, falling in the playoffs to division foes in consecutive years (San Diego in 2022, Arizona in ’23), and thus giving their rivals a sweet taste of revenge.
Well, those rivals better have enjoyed their fun while it lasted. The Dodgers look set to dominate for years after signing Shohei Ohtani to the biggest sports contract ever (10 years, $700 million) and Japanese star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the largest deal ever for a pitcher (12 years, $325 million), in addition to acquiring and extending former Rays fireballer Tyler Glasnow. L. A. has won 10 of the last 11 NL West division titles, and it sure looks like San Francisco’s turn at the top in 2021 will be an outlier.
If there’s one team that should feel confident about its playoff chances, though, it’s the Diamondbacks. Arizona’s Cinderella run to the World Series in 2023 came at least a year ahead of schedule, behind a young core led by NL Rookie of the Year Corbin Carroll. The’ front office has since added power bats Eugenio Suárez and Joc Pederson, as well as solid No. 3 starter Eduardo Rodriguez. Arizona could also be boosted by top shortstop prospect Jordan Lawlar.
San Diego did what it had to by trading Juan Soto’s hefty contract to the Yankees to replenish a rotation ravaged by free agency, but it essentially shut its championship window in the process. The death of owner Peter Seidler in November likely marks the end of the Padres’ free-spending ways.
The Giants reeled in KBO star outfielder Jung Hoo Lee and former World Series MVP Jorge Soler, which should help. More moves may come, but regardless, San Francisco is still ahead of Colorado, which accomplished nothing of note this offseason after losing 103 games last year. The Rockies would do well to avoid another 100-loss debacle.
BEST CASE Even without Shohei Ohtani on the mound this year, Los Angeles cruises to a World Series title behind Freddie Freeman and the best offense in baseball.
WORST CASE Pitching is an issue as injury-prone Tyler Glasnow goes down again and Yoshinobu Yamamoto struggles to adjust. The Dodgers make another early playoff exit.
BEST CASE
All the pieces picked up in free agency fit into place, and SS Jordan Lawlar follows the footsteps of Corbin Carroll by winning NL Rookie of the Year.
WORST CASE The middle of the rotation gets beat up, the bullpen can’t carry over its October magic into 2024 and the defending NL champs turn out to be a one-off.
BEST CASE Several of the starters sent over in the Juan Soto trade slot into the rotation nicely while 3B Manny Machado and the other star hitters propel a deep playoff run.
WORST CASE New manager Mike Shildt can’t fix the clubhouse issues that have surfaced over the last few years, and an under-.500 finish spells the end for GM A. J. Preller.
BEST CASE Korean star Jung Hoo Lee proves to be an on-base machine, and Jorge Soler, signed from Miami, becomes the Giants’ first 30-home-run hitter since Barry Bonds.
WORST CASE
A thin rotation behind workhorse Logan Webb and missed acquisitions by executive Farhan Zaidi lead to another uninspiring season in the middle of the pack.
BEST CASE The Rockies’ highpriced veterans stay healthy enough to be traded at the deadline while Colorado bottoms out and gains another top-three draft pick.
WORST CASE Kris Bryant, Kyle Freeland and Co. continue to weigh down the payroll, ’23 rookie standout Nolan Jones regresses and the Rockies lose out in the draft lottery.