Ch-ching, ch-ching. Do you hear that sound coming from LA? It’s the sound of money, money, money. It may also be the theme song for championship rings, if the Dodgers have anything to say about it.
Last month the Dodgers signed starting pitcher Blake Snell to a five-year deal worth more than $180 million. That move came only a few days after the team won the World Series. It adds another star to an already star-studded roster.
The Dodgers have an embarrassment of riches, with future Hall of Famers all over the clubhouse, from Mookie Betts to Clayton Kershaw to Freddie Freeman to Shohei Ohtani.
How did the Dodgers get this good?
New Owners Reset Expectations in 2012
In 2012, the Los Angeles Dodgers were at a crossroads. Following years of turmoil under previous owner Frank McCourt, the team was sold in a record-breaking $2.15 billion deal to Guggenheim Baseball Management, a group led by Mark Walter, with notable partners including Magic Johnson and Stan Kasten. The new ownership brought not just deep pockets but a clear vision: restore the Dodgers to their storied greatness.
The Guggenheim group wasted no time reshaping the franchise. They invested heavily in player development, scouting, and analytics, while also opening the checkbook for marquee talent. Early moves like acquiring Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez set the tone, but it was their ability to blend big spending with homegrown stars like Clayton Kershaw and Corey Seager that laid the foundation for sustained success. Later, an historic trade and an even more historic free agent contract did even more to make the Dodgers champions. More on that below.
Under this regime, the Dodgers became a perennial powerhouse, winning division titles year after year and capping it off with a long-awaited World Series victory in 2020. Their emphasis on a strong farm system, front-office innovation, and maintaining financial flexibility continues to make them a model franchise. The Guggenheim group turned the Dodgers into more than a team—they’re now a dynasty in the making.
Betts Trade and Oodles of Division Titles
Team can get better in lots of ways. One of the smartest is by player evaluation. The Dodgers' front office made a blockbuster move in February 2020, trading for superstar outfielder Mookie Betts from the Boston Red Sox in a deal that also brought pitcher David Price. Betts' arrival was the culmination of a sustained run of excellence, with the Dodgers reaching the postseason every year since 2014.
While they had fallen short in two World Series (2017, 2018), Betts became the missing piece, helping the Dodgers win the 2020 World Series, their first championship since 1988. His leadership and all-around talent were pivotal in solidifying the Dodgers as perennial World Series contenders.
Ohtani’s Bank-Breaking Contract
Following the 202 MLB season, the Dodgers made history by signing Shohei Ohtani to a record-shattering $700 million contract, the largest in professional sports. The deal cemented Ohtani’s status as the most sought-after talent in baseball, combining his prowess as both an elite pitcher and a dominant hitter.
In a move that underscored Ohtani's team-first mindset, he agreed to defer all but $2 million annually, providing the Dodgers with financial flexibility to maintain a competitive roster. This arrangement allowed the Dodgers to continue building a championship-caliber team around their latest superstar, ensuring their sustained dominance in the MLB.
Ohtani’s arrival electrified an already stacked Dodgers lineup and signaled their commitment to remaining at the forefront of baseball. In 2024, Ohtani became the first player to hit 50+ homers and steal 50+ bases in the same season. He won his third MVP award, joining legends of the game.
More importantly, Ohtani and the Dodgers won the Fall Classic in October, showing fans that this dynasty is just getting started.
Now, with free agent superstar Juan Soto on the market, if the Dodgers pony up and write a big check to grab him, they would look like an All-Star team.
In 2025, it could be a lineup like this:
- Ohtani DH/P
- Betts SS
- JUAN SOTO RF
- Freeman 1B
- Smith C
- Muncy 3B
- Edman CF
- Pages LF
- Lux 2B
Oh boy, print the World Series tickets.
