No. 1: Los Angeles Dodgers
The name on everyone's lips this offseason. The Los Angeles Dodgers had one of, if not the, most legendary and iconic offseasons in MLB history. Of all the big names available in free agency, the Dodgers managed to sign multiple, as outlined by Tim Kelly of Just Baseball. The biggest big name being All-Star and double threat Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani makes this already great team even greater — it's almost unfair.
Ohtani joins a talented club with a winning culture in the Dodgers. The team has dominated the regular season, winning 100 games last year and taking first place in the division two years in a row. However, since their World Series Championship in the shortened 2020 season, they've been unable to make it back. They anticipate getting back this year after going all in this offseason.
The Dodgers would still have made history if they had given up after Ohtani, but that's not the Dodger way. They got fellow Japanese star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto and right-hander Tyler Glasnow. They also signed outfielder Teoscar Hernández. These new players join a roster filled with returning All-Stars, including Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, and Max Muncy.
Many changes were made for the Dodgers this offseason: a revamped starting rotation, Betts' move to shortstop, and the addition of Ohtani's bat in the lineup. Change might be exactly what the Dodgers need to avoid stalling in the playoffs again. They are projected to win the NL West again, but their focus is on October.
The Phillies have not had to play the Dodgers in the playoffs the past two years, but if the Phils want to make another run, they should expect to come face-to-face with arguably the best roster in baseball. Playing the Dodgers will be a daunting task. No team will want to face this lineup and rotation in the postseason.