The defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers have an enormous goal on their backs this season. They’re aspiring to be a repeat winner. Given all of the closely criticized deferred contracts they’ve handed out over the previous two years, each workforce in baseball desires to knock them down. The Dodgers are up towards historical past as no workforce has repeated as World Collection champions for the reason that late 90s.
The Dodgers Need To Repeat
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After profitable their first World Collection title in a full yr since 1988, the Los Angeles Dodgers headed into the offseason aspiring to be repeat champions. They signed free brokers Blake Snell, Kirby Yates, Tanner Scott, Michael Conforto, and promising Japanese gamers Roki Sasaki and Hyeseong Kim. The workforce even introduced again Teoscar Hernandez, Blake Treinen, Tommy Edman, Kike Hernandez, and future Corridor of Famer Clayton Kershaw. Los Angeles added an MLB file, over $450 million, to their payroll this offseason.
Repeating Has By no means Been More durable
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The final workforce the game noticed be a repeat World Collection winner was the New York Yankees from 1998-2000. Trying to repeat as World Collection champions has by no means been tougher in at present’s recreation. Luxurious tax penalties are stiffer, groups lose draft picks for signing sure free brokers, and the postseason discipline is greater. It wasn’t that way back we thought groups just like the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros could be repeat winners. Whereas these two groups had success with Houston even profitable it once more in 2022, none of them repeated as champions.
The Goal On The Dodgers Again Has By no means Been Larger
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Given how a lot cash the Dodgers have spent and the truth that they’ve primarily cheated the posh tax, groups are extra motivated than ever to beat the Dodgers. Don’t count on the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres to make it simple on Los Angeles contained in the NL West. Other than the Dodgers, each fan base in baseball is rooting for them to be despatched residence with out a championship this October. The goal on the Dodgers’ again may be seen over a mile away from Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers Hardest Opponent In 2025 Is Historical past
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The hardest opponent the Los Angeles Dodgers will face in 2025 is historical past. It has been over 25 years since baseball noticed a repeat champion. Whereas Los Angeles is aspiring to be the newest, they’re going up towards historical past this season. Baseball has seen many groups who’ve the expertise to be repeat World Collection winners, nonetheless, none of them have been profitable. The goal that’s on the Dodgers is greater than a centerfield jumbotron. Given all the cash the Dodgers have spent this offseason and the way they’ve cheated the posh tax, different groups have by no means been extra motivated to beat them.
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