Only two teams won at least 40 games during the abbreviated 2020 MLB season: the Tampa Bay Rays were one of them, with 40, and the Los Angeles Dodgers were the other one, with 43.
A 43-17 record is awfully impressive but not as much as a World Series trophy, which the Dodgers were able to win after topping… the Rays.
Last season’s events, and a whole offseason of movements and transactions, raise the question: are the Dodgers the best team in baseball?
The answer, at least on paper, is simple: yes, they are.
Dodgers’ Pitching Is Absurdly Good And Deep
Right now, the Dodgers are the best team in MLB by virtue of keeping most of the core that lifted the World Series trophy a few months ago and adding one specific name.
When everybody thought that the New York Mets were going to end up with Trevor Bauer, the Dodgers swooped in and signed to a peculiar three-year contract with two opt outs.
As if the Dodgers needed any more help……
Trevor Bauer announced he's heading to the Dodgers, making him the THIRD Cy Young winner in the Dodger's starting pitching rotation.
Good luck hitting against them. pic.twitter.com/QQcmHqD6jA
— The Sportsletter (@TheSportsletter) February 5, 2021
Now, the Dodgers’ rotation has Clayton Kershaw, David Price, Walker Buehler, Bauer, and Julio Urias, not to mention Tony Gonsolin (2.31 ERA, 2.29 FIP) and Dustin May (2.57 ERA) as depth pieces.
Jon Morosi of MLB Network explains it best:
How great is the #Dodgers rotation?
Four L.A. starters have combined to win 5 Cy Young Awards and make 15 All-Star appearances.
And then there’s Julio Urías, who went 4-0 with a 1.17 ERA over 23 IP in the 2020 postseason.
Simply extraordinary. @MLB @MLBNetwork @Cut4
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) February 5, 2021
Without Bauer, the Dodgers were the best team in ERA last season, with 3.02.
They also ranked fifth in Wins Above Replacement (WAR) with 8.6.
Dodgers’ starters were second in the league, with a 3.29 ERA, only trailing the Cleveland Indians’ 3.17 mark.
Now, they are adding the National League Cy Young winner to that rotation.
Relievers were fine, too: they had the second-best ERA in 2020, with 2.74.
They re-signed Blake Treinen and brought strikeout artist Corey Knebel.
Los Angeles’ Offense Is Not Too Shabby, Either
If you were worried about the Dodgers’ offense, don’t be.
They ended up leading the Major Leagues with a 122 weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+), a statistic that encompasses the most important elements of offensive performance.
If we go the more traditional way, the Dodgers led the league in home runs, with 118, and in runs scored, with 349.
They lost Kike Hernandez and could theoretically lose Justin Turner, although they have as good a chance as anyone of re-signing him.
Last season, the Dodgers were the best offense in baseball, and they should be among the most productive units once again in 2021.
The Mets, Padres, And Yankees Improved, But…
Who can compete with the Dodgers for the “best team in baseball” title?
The Rays lost two crucial starters in Blake Snell and Charlie Morton, and while they should be very good again in 2021, it’s possible that they peaked last year.
The Yankees added Jameson Taillon and Corey Kluber and have a well-balanced team, but they aren’t in the Dodgers’ league.
The Mets brought several All-Stars, including shortstop Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco, while the Padres traded for Snell, Yu Darvish, and Joe Musgrove and now have an uber-rotation.
However, just when the Padres were closing the gap, the Dodgers announced the Bauer signing.
The Yankees, Mets, and Padres all have excellent rosters; and ditto the Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros, and Oakland A’s.
But none of those teams can compete with the Dodgers’ firepower.
