After a shock defeat to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2023 MLB playoffs, the Los Angeles Dodgers made it a priority to upgrade the bats that went cold & the pitching that served batting practice last October. As of Feb. 28, the Dodgers have spent over $1 billion dollars in free agency, a number that has seen criticism from people around MLB. 

The Dodgers began the offseason by making superstar designated hitter/pitcher Shohei Ohtani. The two-way Japanese sensation received a 10-year contract worth $700 million dollars. While Ohtani won’t pitch in 2024 due to elbow surgery, he will be inserted right into the all-star caliber lineup and is among the favorites to win NL MVP. 

The other major acquisitions were made on the pitching side. On Dec. 15, the Dodgers gambled on a trade that brought Tampa Bay Rays ace Tyler Glasnow to southern California. When healthy, Glasnow is among the top 5-10 pitchers in the league. But injuries have plagued his career, and he is yet to pitch over 120 innings in a season when the average is 170. 

Although Glasnow boosted the pitching rotation to an extent, it would not be the final domino on the Dodger offseason. On Dec. 27, the Dodgers signed Japanese superstar Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a 12-year contract worth $325 million dollars. The 25-year-old had pitched in the NPB (Japan’s version of MLB) since he was 19. Now, he is expected to be the Dodgers’ #1 pitcher right out of the gate. 

Looking forward to the upcoming season, it is easy to see why the Dodgers are the betting favorites to win the 2024 World Series. Most of the core that won 100 games in the regular season return besides designated hitter J.D. Martinez, who is replaced by Ohtani. However, the rotation did see a vast change throughout the offseason with the additions of Yamamoto, Glasnow, and fellow free agent acquisition James Paxton. 

More likely than not, the Dodgers will win their 11th NL West title in the last 12 seasons, yet this is a franchise still looking for their first full season World Series title since 1988.

All in all, the 2024 season will be defined by their performance in the MLB playoffs. Whether unfair or not, the $1 billion offseason has placed a humongous target on their back, and it will be up to them to overcome the ghost of October.