Dodgers: From Super Team to Uncertainty in MLB 2025

The Dodgers: A Failed Super Team or Simply a Disappointment?

The Los Angeles Dodgers, with a roster full of stars, seemed destined to dominate baseball in the 2025 season. However, the reality was very different. Injuries, combined with a series of factors, turned expectations into frustration and left fans with a bittersweet taste. At the start of the season, the Dodgers looked imposing. Reinforced with key figures and with an outstanding performance in free agency, they seemed destined for greatness. Computer projections, even the most conservative ones, anticipated a successful season. But fate had other plans. The season, which was expected to be a coronation for the Dodgers, turned into a rollercoaster. Despite having a roster full of individual talent, the team failed to meet expectations. More than $70 million of their hefty payroll was allocated to players on the injured list. This situation, which even surpassed the total spending of the Marlins on their payroll, was a harsh reminder that individual success does not always translate into collective dominance. Despite the stellar performance of Shohei Ohtani, the emergence of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the good performance of Will Smith and the revelation of Emmet Sheehan, the Dodgers finished with a record of 93-69. This mark, lower than that of the previous year and that of their 2022 squad, showed that the team, on this occasion, failed to be greater than the sum of its parts. The Dodgers’ situation is not an isolated case. The New York Mets, after investing a record sum in Juan Soto, suffered a collapse that culminated in a disappointing elimination in October. This season, parity in baseball opens the doors to an unpredictable postseason month.

The random nature of the baseball postseason leaves every team, even the super versions, vulnerable.

Alofoke Deportes

The question that arises is: does it make sense to build a super team if success in the regular season does not guarantee success in the postseason? The answer seems to be complex. The league is experiencing a change, with more teams competing for a playoff spot, which diminishes the incentive to spend large amounts of money beyond what is necessary to reach the postseason.

In an environment where decision-making is more efficient, the ability of a few teams to hoard elite talent is limited. The strategy of investing in areas such as player development and identifying undervalued talent seems to be more effective than spending astronomical sums on renowned players. The Milwaukee Brewers, with a limited budget, have shown that it is possible to compete without spending large sums of money. Their focus on player development, exploration of the Latin American market, and identification of undervalued talents has allowed them to remain competitive. The consistency of the Brewers, who limited their losing streaks, contrasts with the instability of other teams, even those with star-studded rosters. The Dodgers’ failure this season is due to expectations and their performance compared to their own past versions. If the Dodgers manage to find their best version in October, they could be unstoppable. With Ohtani, Yamamoto, Snell, Glasnow, Betts, and Freeman, the team has the potential to achieve great things. The 2025 postseason promises to be exciting, with teams like the Reds, Phillies, Padres, Cubs, Mariners, Yankees, Blue Jays, Guardians, Red Sox, and Tigers competing for the championship. Recent baseball history is full of examples of less talented teams achieving great things at the right time.

Although super teams are attractive, they do not guarantee success. In this year’s postseason, the presence of superstar players like Ohtani, Judge, Raleigh, Schwarber, Skubal, and Crochet ensures nothing. The equality in the valuation of players and the difficulty of creating a dominant roster make the 2025 postseason even more attractive, with its imperfections and surprises.