Dodgers: The New Murderers Row?

The 2024 Los Angeles Dodgers. You could say it is the best team in baseball. But it’s just the start of the season. Could a team that spent $1.21 billion for free agents this offseason still win a World Series? 

This past offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers spent the most on trades in the MLB, $1.21 billion. One of the primary players they brought to the franchise is Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani ventured across Los Angeles, moving from the Angels in Anaheim to the Dodgers for an eye-watering $700 million for 10 years. The other big-dollar player, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, came from Nippon Professional Baseball’s Orix Buffaloes. (The NPB is Japan’s MLB.) Yamamoto is a pitcher who is expected to receive $325 million over 12 years. This year, his salary is only $5 million out of the expected $325 million. 

Last season in Japan, Yamamoto's record was 16-6, with an ERA of just under 1.21. He struck out 169 with 28 walks in 164 innings. This past September 9, Yamamoto pitched his second career no-hitter, the NPB’s 100th all-time. Yamamoto’s arm threw a complete 138-pitch game this past November.

Ohtani has played in the MLB since 2018. You could argue that he is the greatest of all time. The 29-year-old not only pitches but also hits, and he hits extremely well. Ohtani hit 44 home runs in 2023, fourth place in the entire league. Ohtani is not expected to pitch in 2024 as he recovers from arm surgery. 

These two players could take the Dodgers to another World Series Title. And let’s not forget the players who have been there for the past few years. Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and more. A lesser-known move involving the Seattle Mariners sent Teoscar Hernandez, a 31-year-old left fielder, to the Dodgers. From a Seattle point of view, it seems that all the Mariners want is money, which Hernandez’s departure frees up to spend elsewhere. We will have to wait till the MLB trade deadline of July 30 to see how they spend it. 

In conclusion, the Dodgers have already posted record-setting spring training statistics, and Major League Baseball is super excited to see what this team has to showcase. Can this team, with a total payroll worth $4.8 billion, really win a World Series? We’ll have to find out.