Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki throws during a spring training baseball practice, Tuesday, … [+]
It seems like the whirlwind has not ended for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in five games in last year’s World Series that ended on Oct. 30. The Dodgers held their World Series parade a few days later then president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Brandon Gomes were on their way to the MLB GM Meetings.
What followed was a frenetic offseason when the Dodgers went all out to improve the roster of a team that also had the best regular-season record last year at 98-64.
Two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell was signed to a five-year, $182-million contract as a free agent. The Dodgers also won the bidding for prized Japanese free agent pitcher Roki Sasaki and signed left-hander Tanner Scott and right-hander Kirby Yates to provide an All-Star combination at the back end of the bullpen.
Beyond that, they signed infielder second baseman Hyesong Kim from the Korean Baseball Organization along with veteran outfielder Anthony Conforto and re-signed three-time Young winner Clayton Kershaw as well as reliever Blake Treinen, left fielder Teoscar Hernandez, center fielder Tommy Edman and utility player Enrique Hernandez.
Los Angeles Dodgers Ready To Defend Title
The Dodgers got to spring training earlier than most teams because they will begin the regular season March 18-19 with a two-game series against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo.
So, it would be easy to understand if the Dodgers haven’t caught their breath. However, Gomes is confident that the winter moves have given the Dodgers some added adrenaline for 2025 and will offset a potential championship hangover.
The Dodgers are trying to become the first team to win consecutive World Series since the Yankees captured three straight titles from 1998-2000.
“It’s exciting to be back in spring training and get going again,” Gomes said. “Obviously, we added a good bit of talent and seeing the guys come together sort to build relationships and that clubhouse culture early on has been fun. They’re anxious to get started.
“Most everyone reported to spring training a week early and came to camp in really good shape. I don’t get the sense of there being any complacency.”
Dodgers two-day star Shohei Ohtani may have set the tone for a repeat when he said after the World Series-clinching victory that he wanted to win nine more titles. That is how many years the 2024 National League Most Valuable Player has remaining on his 10-year, $700-million contract.
“I’m not sure he was joking,” Friedman said.
Los Angeles Dodgers Win Sasaki Sweepstakes
The Dodgers are certainly set up to win again in 2025. They were down to just three starting pitchers by the end of the World Series because of injuries but Snell, Sasaki and a host of healthy arms give the Dodgers one of the best rotations in MLB.
Sasaki is particularly intriguing.
He is just 23 years old, and the Dodgers faced heavy competition to sign him. Though not a finished product and hampered by injuries during four seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball, many scout feels Sasaki has the talent to be one of the best pitchers in the game.
The Dodgers were considered the favorites to land Sasaki because they already had Ohtani and fellow Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a right-hander who was signed to a 12-year, $325-million contract during the 2023-24 offseason. However, Gomes says the Dodgers sweated out the negotiations.
“Signing Roki was the culmination of a lot of years from our scouts putting in the work, the preparation that went into the meetings with him,” Gomes said. “There was a lot that went into it. It was stressful because you don’t really know how things are going to play out. You know how talented he is and how many teams want him and how the odds can shift. We added another ace-caliber pitcher, so obviously incredibly happy with how it turned out.”
Dodgers Will Get Two-Way Shohei
Ohtani is expected to return to being a two-way player this season now that he has recovered from Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery. Ohtani was solely a DH in his first season with the Dodgers but still became the first player in MLB history to have at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in the same season, finishing with 54 homers and 59 steals.
The Dodgers are hopeful to have Ohtani in their rotation by the beginning of May. He has a 38-19 record and 3.01 ERA in 86 starts in the big leagues.
“You almost forget he’s a pitcher, too, right?” Gomes said with a smile. “He was so good as a DH, having the 50/50 season. Watching him go through that process and take the same methodical approach and the work ethic that goes into that as a pitcher, it’s really fascinating to be able to have the not only the physical bandwidth, but it’s taxing mentally to do just one.
“So, his ability to do both is so impressive and he takes the same attention and detail on both sides. We’re excited to get him back out there. We’re spoiled that he’s one of the best in the game on both sides.”
Gomes is just excited to see how the Dodgers’ high-priced roster perform in 2025. They are estimated to have an opening-day payroll of $389 million, which would be the highest of any team.
“First of all, the support from ownership has been amazing,” Gomes said. “And the way our fans come out and pack the house every game, the support, seeing that parade and the love that the city provided through that whole thing last year … it was important for our ownership group and (front office) us to make sure we’re giving back to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ fans to put out the most talented team we possibly can.”
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