Manny Machado is no stranger to confidence, but his recent prediction that the San Diego Padres would win the NL West over the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2025 appears more optimistic than practical. The Padres’ great third baseman recently declared that his squad is prepared to “handle unfinished business” and dethrone the Dodgers. However, a cursory glance at the rosters and offseason movements suggests otherwise.
The Dodgers, who recently won the World Series, have merely bolstered their already powerful team. They brought in Blake Snell, a two-time Cy Young champion, and Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki. Los Angeles increased its firepower by re-signing Teoscar Hernandez and acquiring Michael Conforto and Hyeseong Kim.
Their lineup already includes MVPs such as Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Shohei Ohtani, establishing a juggernaut designed to dominate. Meanwhile, the Padres had a quiet winter, losing key players while making few newcomers. Snell’s departure two seasons ago harmed the rotation. Furthermore, Tanner Scott, their most effective reliever, is now wearing Dodger Blue, and their most major move was a minor trade for a mid-tier reliever. With a flat payroll and no major signings, it’s difficult to see how they’ve improved enough to compete with the Dodgers over a 162-game season. Machado’s optimism is admirable, but San Diego’s “unfinished business” from the previous season resulted in a Game 5 NLDS loss to the Dodgers.
If they couldn’t beat L.A. the prior year, it’s difficult to imagine them doing so now with an even inferior lineup. The Dodgers, on the other hand, have reloaded with superstars and are determined to repeat as champions. While everything is possible in baseball, the Padres’ chances of defeating the mighty Dodgers in the division race are unlikely. In fact, the difference between these two teams has grown even wider as we approach 2025.
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