Dodgers’ 2025 Outlook: Can Snell and a Star-Studded Lineup Maintain Dominance

(Xports News Reporter Park Jeong-hyun) The LA Dodgers seem to be playing a baseball game in real life.

On the 27th (Korean time), the American local media ‘AP News’ said, “The Dodgers are planning to spend a lot of money to recruit one of the best starting pitchers less than a month after winning the World Series,” and “an official familiar with the negotiations said, According to the report, “Snell and the Dodgers have agreed to a five-year contract worth a total of $182 million (approximately 254.4 billion won), and a medical test will be conducted.”

Snell also acknowledged his decision to go to the Dodgers. He posted a photo of himself wearing a Dodgers uniform on his personal SNS. If no problems are found in the medical test, Snell will actually wear the Dodgers’ blue uniform, not just in the photo.

This season, the Dodgers fulfilled their long-held wish. Won the World Series. In the 2020 season, which was shortened due to COVID-19, they defeated the Tampa Bay Rays, in which Choi Ji-man played, and lifted the championship trophy, but they were labeled as a ‘half-winner’. We desperately needed to win a full-time season to match the club’s reputation and investment, and we were able to smile as we achieved it this year.

Even before the season, the Dodgers were evaluated as strong contenders for the championship. Major League superstar Shohei Ohtani was brought in through a free agent contract, pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto was acquired through the posting system (private competitive bidding), and Tyler Glasnow was acquired through a trade. Not satisfied with this, they did their best to strengthen the lineup by retaining slugger Teosca Hernández on a free agent contract.

The Dodgers, who started the season with the assessment of ‘Wow’ (the Dodgers will win anyway), did not exceed expectations and became World Series champions.

And we plan to lift the championship trophy in the 2025 season as well. The signing of ‘left-handed special’ Snell, who won the Cy Young Award in both major leagues for the seventh time in history, was the signal. The Dodgers, who ranked 19th out of 30 teams in the league this year with an average ERA of 4.23, began to strengthen their starting lineup, which was considered a weak point.

With the signing of Snell, the Dodgers have built an all-star starting lineup that is typical of baseball games. Even Ohtani, a star who doubles as a pitcher next season, is expected to join the starting lineup after completing rehabilitation after elbow ligament reconstruction surgery (Tommy John surgery).

FOX Sports, an American sports media outlet, selected the Dodgers’ expected starting lineup for the 2025 season immediately after hearing the news of Snell’s contract agreement. The list included Snell, Ohtani, Yamamoto, Glasnow, Tony Gonsolin, and Dustin May.

Regarding Snell’s transfer to the Dodgers, MLB.com, the official Major League website, said, “There is no doubt about Snell’s skills. Of course, he may not be able to last as long an inning as desired (due to poor inning ability), but He predicted positively, saying, “Inning eaters are not popular in baseball these days, and (Snell’s ability to handle innings) may not be important to the Dodgers.”

Not satisfied with this, the Dodgers are seeking to recruit Rocky Sasaki (Chiba Lotte Marines), who chose to challenge the Major League using the posting system. Jack Flaherty and Walker Buehler, who helped win the World Series, have reached free agency status, but the Dodgers are aiming to win the championship once again by strengthening their starting lineup.

◆Big league performance of the Dodgers’ expected starting lineup in the 2025 season (2024 season/total performance)

-Snell

2024 season: 20 games, 5 wins, 3 losses, 104 innings, ERA 3.12, 145 strikeouts, WHIP (on base allowed per inning) 1.05

Career records: 211 games, 76 wins, 58 losses, 1,096⅔ innings, 1,368 strikeouts, WHIP 1.22

-Ohtani (committed to batting for 2024 season)

Career records: 86 games, 38 wins, 19 losses, 481⅔ innings, ERA 3.01, 608 strikeouts, WHIP 1.08

-Yamamoto (debut in 2024 season)

Career records: 18 games, 7 wins, 2 losses, 90 innings, ERA 3.00, 105 strikeouts, WHIP 1.11

-Glass Now

2024 season: 22 games, 9 wins, 6 losses, 134 innings, ERA 3.49, 168 strikeouts, WHIP 0.95

Career records: 149 games (110 starts), 39 wins, 33 losses, 663⅔ innings, ERA 3.81, 846 strikeouts, WHIP 1.15

-Gonsolin (out in 2024 season)

Career records: 79 games (71 starts), 34 wins, 11 losses, 375⅔ innings, ERA 3.19, 349 strikeouts, WHIP 1.05

-May (out in 2024 season)

Career records: 46 games (34 starts), 12 wins, 9 losses, 191⅔ innings, ERA 3.10, 174 strikeouts, WHIP 1.05

Photo = Xports News DB / Yonhap News / FOX Sports / Snell’s personal SNS

Reporter Park Jeong-hyeon [email protected]