Manny Machado is no stranger to confidence, but his latest claim that the San Diego Padres will win the NL West over the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2025 seems more wishful than realistic.
The Padres’ star third baseman recently stated that his team is ready to “handle unfinished business” and dethrone the Dodgers. Still, a quick look at the rosters and offseason moves suggests otherwise. The Dodgers, fresh off a World Series title, have only strengthened their stacked roster.
They brought in two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell and Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki. Los Angeles added even more firepower by re-signing Teoscar Hernandez and adding Michael Conforto and Hyeseong Kim.
Their lineup already features MVPs like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Shohei Ohtani, forming a juggernaut built to dominate.
Meanwhile, the Padres have had a quiet offseason, losing key players and making minimal additions. Snell’s departure two seasons ago damaged the rotation.
Furthermore, their most potent reliever, Tanner Scott, is now wearing Dodger Blue, and their most significant move was a modest trade for a mid-tier reliever.
With a stagnant payroll and no significant signings, it’s difficult to see how they have improved enough to challenge the Dodgers in a 162-game season.
Machado’s optimism is commendable, but San Diego’s “unfinished business” from last season ended in a Game 5 NLDS loss to the Dodgers. If they couldn’t overcome L.A. the previous year, it’s hard to see them doing it now with an even weaker roster.
The Dodgers, on the other hand, have reloaded with star power and are determined to repeat as champions.
While anything can happen in baseball, the idea that the Padres will take down this powerhouse Dodgers squad in the division race seems far-fetched.
If anything, the gap between these two teams has only widened heading into 2025.
