MLB Preview: Do the Dodgers Repeat?
There was a huge sigh of relief from the fans after the Dodgers claim their first World Series Championship since 1988 ending the 32-year drought. The fans were not sure the Dodgers could get over the hump after 8 consecutive NL Division titles and loading up all-star after all-star. However, they fought the pandemic riddled season and took down the Tampa Rays four games to two.
Offseason Acquisitions
The main acquisition for the Dodgers was 2020 NL Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer. They signed him on a mega short-term deal getting the former Reds ace pitcher on a 3 year 102 million dollar deal. Huge blow to the Reds as they let their first superstar pitcher to win a Cy Young for the franchise to walk in free agency with getting nothing in return. Bauer had a season to remember last year throwing 100 strikeouts and finished with a league-best 1.73 ERA. If the Dodgers want to repeat, Bauer pitching with the likes of Kershaw, Clevinger, and Buehler will round out the soild starting rotation.
The Dodgers will also bring back 36-year-old third basemen Justin Turner on a two year deal worth 34 million dollars. The veteran third baseman still has some juice left after slashing .250/.333/.471 and three home runs during the postseason.
Catcher Austin Barnes will also return to the roster after getting a two-year deal avoiding the arbitration panel. The catcher started 8 out of the 18 postseason games and did a pretty stand up job and hit .320/.393/.440 making all of his starts count.
Corey Seager and Walker Buehler also avoid salary arbitration and sign short term deals. Seager signs a one year deal with 16.1 million and Buehler signs a two-year deal worth 8 million. Bringing back these players will be crucial going for the repeat.
Season Projections
The Dodgers have been great on paper for a long time and continue to be great on paper going into this season. They broke the drought and now can relax knowing they have talent to do it again with much of the pressure to perform off. However, they must continue to dig deep as other team’s have loaded up to contend for the World Series. They must use their talent in their rotation with Kershaw and Bauer to get early leads in the postseason series as making the playoffs isn’t the problem.
The Dodgers are one the top teams in the league this year and will dominate in the regular season once again. The Dodgers ceiling is high, anything less than making the World Series should be chalked up as a failure. I project the Dodgers to have an overall record of 96-66 and making it to the NLCS. Getting over the NLCS hump will be difficult as they will most likely have to face the Padres, who have loaded up their roster, to do so.
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