A lot for the Dodgers ruining baseball.
They gained’t end this season with the perfect report in historical past, as they may win each one in all their remaining video games and nonetheless not understand the 120-win season that was envisioned for them.
They won’t even end this season with the perfect report within the Nationwide League — or in their very own division, for that matter.
The Dodgers look beatable.
Their perceived vulnerability didn’t essentially encourage the frenzied motion round baseball earlier than the commerce deadline, nevertheless it actually didn’t discourage it both.
With blood within the water and the World Collection discipline broad open, a number of contenders moved to organize their rosters for October. No group modified as a lot because the San Diego Padres, who’re immediately positioned to show the Dodgers’ title protection right into a humiliation train.
“We went in knowing, OK, we have a team that can compete and play deep and ultimately we have these needs and let’s go fill them,” Padres basic supervisor A.J. Preller mentioned.
Mason Miller, who throws a fastball with a median velocity of 101 mph, will turbocharge what was already the No. 1 bullpen in baseball. Ramon Laureano and Ryan O’Hearn will enhance the stability of a top-heavy lineup that includes Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. Freddy Fermin will handle a gap at catcher. JP Sears and Nestor Cortes will add depth to a rotation on the mend.
Significantly revealing of the Padres’ ambitions was what Preller didn’t do. He didn’t commerce nearer Robert Suarez, an impending free agent. He didn’t commerce underperforming former All-Star pitcher Dylan Stop, who may also hit the market this winter.
The Padres had been solely three video games behind the Dodgers on the commerce deadline, making Preller’s group a professional risk to overhaul them within the division and price them a top-two seed within the NL, for which the reward is a first-round bye within the playoffs.
The hazard didn’t compel the Dodgers to behave, their relative inactivity on this state of affairs reflecting the contrasting philosophies of the 2 organizations.
The Dodgers make offers on their phrases. When president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman overpay for gamers — the mixed $85 million the Dodgers spent over the winter on relievers Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates is an instance — it’s normally by chance.
The mentality typically outcomes out there dictating to the Dodgers what they’ll and might’t do. For higher or worse, the Padres have elected a proactive strategy.
Touchdown Miller required to half with Leo De Vries, an 18-year-old shortstop who’s broadly thought-about one of many 5 greatest prospects in your entire sport.
Preller knew what he gave up.
“He’s going to be a very good major league player,” Preller mentioned of De Vries.
Preller has accomplished this earlier than, He traded Max Fried and he traded Emmanuel Clase and he traded Josh Naylor. When he acquired Juan Soto on the 2022 commerce deadline, he despatched the Washington Nationals a bundle that included three future All-Stars in CJ Abrams, MacKenzie Gore and James Wooden.
Impression gamers have appreciable value tags, and so they’re greater in some years than in others. The Dodgers examined the costs of the perfect relievers and outfielders obtainable, and so they settled for extra inexpensive choices. The Padres went for it, with Preller saying he was assured the group’s scouting and participant improvement departments would as soon as once more replenish the farm system.
“In different points in time over the last few years, we’ve been able to be in this position, to be able to make these types of decisions and calls,” Preller mentioned. “It’s just because we have good players that other teams want.”
The Padres weren’t alone. The 2 New York groups reconstructed their bullpens, the Philadelphia Phillies discovered a more in-depth in Jhoan Duan and the Seattle Mariners added some pop to their lineup by dealing for Eugenio Suarez and Josh Naylor.
Why wouldn’t these groups be daring?
The Dodgers couldn’t make this a one-horse race. Their lack of ability to separate themselves from the pack offered opponents with alternatives to move them by on the commerce deadline. A few of them might need.
