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The Los Angeles Dodgers won the 2024 World Series and encountered very little resistance on the way there. Los Angeles lost a few games along the way and also saw a bit of upset from the New York Yankees in the final series of the year, but in the end it was always the Dodgers who came out on top.
Heading into 2025, Los Angeles will be the heavy favorite to win the World Series again. They will be a lot better just because of returning players from injuries. Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow will both be ready for Opening Day as Los Angeles looks to reload their roster in free agency.
But who, besides Los Angeles, can win the World Series? Who are the early favorites who could keep the Dodgers from winning the World Series in back-to-back seasons?
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If there’s one team in the entire league that is rumored to improve its roster this winter, it’s the New York Mets. The Mets were much better than anyone expected this season, but they fell short against the Dodgers in the NLCS. While they looked competitive at times, they couldn’t match the loaded Dodgers roster.
But Mets owner Steve Cohen is the richest owner in baseball history. He’s going to open the checkbook and spend as much as anyone in one offseason to keep up with the Dodgers.
The first player they will start with is Juan Soto, but Soto could end up back with the Yankees. Even if he does, the Mets have a chance to hand out $1 billion in contracts this season, just like the Dodgers did a year ago. They could send a few hundred million dollars to players like Pete Alonso, Corbin Burnes, Tanner Scott, Willy Adames and Teoscar Hernandez. If that sounds ridiculous, that’s because it absolutely is. But with an owner with a net worth of over $21 billion, it’s absolutely possible.
If the Mets bring back their team from last year and make a few minor trades, they have a chance to compete with Los Angeles. But if Cohen has an offseason like everyone expects, this Mets team could be incredible in 2025.
You can’t have a conversation about the World Series without mentioning the team that emerged from the American League in 2025. New York Yankees are packed with talent and will only get better this season. That is, if they can bring Juan Soto back to the Bronx.
The entire offseason for Aaron Boone’s team depends on whether they can bring Soto back. If Soto returns to pinstripes next season, the Yankees will be back at the top of the league. If Soto leaves town, the Yankees’ path to the World Series becomes much more difficult. But they would still have the opportunity to bring in other talent, giving them a chance to compete with the best teams in the league.
If the Yankees really want to compete with the improved Dodgers next year, they’ll need something more than just Soto. To reach the Dodgers level, the Yankees would have to bring back Soto while also signing someone like Christian Walker and a reliever like Kirby Yates.
The Yankees are also linked to Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams on the trade market. Adding Williams would be a huge boost for Aaron Boone’s bullpen.
You can’t mention the Dodgers as postseason contenders without the San Diego Padres. Obviously the Dodgers have dominated the rivalry in recent seasons, but that doesn’t mean the Dodgers are miles ahead of a good San Diego team.
The Padres will return virtually all of their key players, with only a few free agents. They also have the opportunity for add-on play in free agency and on the trade market this winter. Some pundits have linked the Padres to numerous top free agents, with Juan Soto highlighting the list of players their front office could bring in.
While Soto is more of a dream scenario than anything realistic, there are some solid options they could bring in that would improve their team quite a bit.
San Diego isn’t as far behind the Dodgers as you might think. They have the star power to take them down. They have the pitching to take them down. If they can bring Tanner Scott back to their bullpen while adding a bat or two, they have a chance to dethrone their division rival Dodgers on their way to a World Series.