After seeing their rotation decimated by injuries, they signed two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell, taking him from the rival Giants. They landed Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki in a decision that didn’t surprise anybody. Two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani, who won an MVP and title in his first season with the Dodgers, will return to the mound at some point. The Dodgers added Tanner Scott, the free-agent market’s prized reliever, and former Brave Kirby Yates while re-signing Blake Treinen. The rotation and bullpen look historically phenomenal. They’ll have depth to cover for inevitable injuries (at some point, Clayton Kershaw could rejoin the mix as well).

The Dodgers re-signed the powerful Teoscar Hernandez after a successful one-year pact in 2024. They also added veteran outfielder Michael Conforto and South Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim. A cherry on top: extending the versatile Tommy Edman.

This is every fan’s dream. The Dodgers are winning. They’re spending. They possess star power, depth, a vibrant farm system and a brilliant front office, all of which ensure sustainability. This is a rich franchise operating at its full capabilities. The Dodgers are MLB’s supervillain – and they love it.

San Diego Padres

Fresh off getting eliminated by the hated Dodgers, the Padres have had one of the most disappointing winters. Scott signed with the Dodgers. Outfielder Jurickson Profar, who’d excelled in their uniform, is off to Atlanta. Beloved infielder Ha-Seong Kim joined Tampa Bay. Catcher Kyle Higashioka went to Texas. The Padres missed on Sasaki. Starters Dylan Cease and Michael King, along with reliable hitter Luis Arraez, remain ticketed for free agency next offseason (King just signed a new deal that includes a 2026 mutual option). Then there’s some ownership legal drama, as well.

San Diego legitimately could’ve won it all if it’d closed out the Dodgers. Now, the team has lost a few contributors without making any substantial additions. This is still a good team that will be in the postseason mix, but it doesn’t feel like this will be another step forward after a promising 2024 season under then-new skipper Mike Shildt. The Padres need another outfielder. They’re reportedly shopping their starters, so maybe they’ll improve the roster by flipping Cease, a Milton native. Perhaps they’ll capitalize on a free agent’s market failing to materialize.

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks didn’t appear to be a team dabbling in the upper tier of free agency, yet they inked ace Corbin Burnes to a contract exceeding $200 million. Burnes wanted to be in Arizona, where he lives, full time and the D-Backs made it work. Arizona won the NL pennant two years ago and is firmly in a competitive window. Realistically, there are only a small group of NL teams that can honestly hold World Series aspirations; this is one of them.

Burnes joins what should be a strong rotation that includes another No. 1-caliber starter Zac Gallen. One of the sport’s great young talents, Corbin Carroll should emphatically rebound after an uneven campaign. The Diamondbacks lost first baseman Christian Walker in free agency but added All-Star Josh Naylor from Cleveland. With San Diego’s lackluster winter, the Diamondbacks could be primed to take control of second place. You’d like to see them add a bullpen piece and one more bat.

San Francisco Giants

Franchise legend Buster Posey is running the show now. He made two notable additions: shortstop Willy Adames, who adds needed power to the lineup, and veteran starter Justin Verlander, who’s an upside play for a rotation that lost Snell. In signing Adames, Posey achieved something dismissed executive Farhan Zaidi never did: He landed a marquee bat in free agency, which the Giants had attempted to do for years.

San Francisco has been linked to free agents Pete Alonso and Jack Flaherty this winter, but Posey recently indicated the heavy lifting was done. The lineup possesses a nice blend of up-and-comers - like Jung Hoo Lee, who’s back healthy, Heliot Ramos and Patrick Bailey - and veterans, like Adames and Matt Chapman. Top prospect Bryce Eldridge, 20, isn’t far away after reaching Triple-A last season. The rotation has high upside but carries risk: Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, Kyle Harrison, Verlander and Jordan Hicks.

The Giants should be better, but they also fall clearly short of the Dodgers and Diamondbacks on paper. And they don’t match the Padres’ star power. There’s still potential for a solid wild-card contender here.

Colorado Rockies

The Rockies are just going through the motions. This will be another last-place finish for them, and a comfortable one at that. There’s some talent on the club and on the way, including former Georgia slugger Charlie Condon, but the Rockies are fodder in baseball’s strongest division. They simply don’t have enough to compete and probably won’t for several more years.

Colorado signed infielders Thairo Estrada and Kyle Farmer and re-signed catcher Jacob Stallings. They aren’t sellers but also haven’t acted to meaningfully improve their club. The Rockies haven’t had a winning season since 2018. That will remain true at season’s end.