Dodgers analyst claims "Giants adding Willy Adames, Diamondbacks adding Corbin Burnes" brings serious threats to Los Angeles' NL West team

The Los Angeles Dodgers have won 13 of the last 17 National League West division titles. They have easily been the best team in the division during that stretch but have faced increasing challenges in the recent years, and looking at how the current offseason has shaped up, it is only going to get harder.

Speaking on the Dodgers Territory podcast, Alanna Rizzo and Clint Pasilas discussed the Dodgers chances of adding their 23rd division title. As per Pasilas, all other teams are looking to match up to LA.

Their closest rivals, the Giants, signed shortstop Willy Adames to a seven-year, $182 million contract, while the Diamondbacks got one of the best pitchers in the game, Corbin Burnes, for a six-year, $210 million deal. The San Diego Padres, who have come the closest in terms of competitiveness to the Dodgers also with remain the rock-solid roster that they had last year.

"There's going to be a lot more competition in the National League West this year. We know all these teams have made some big moves. The Giants adding Willie Adames, the Diamondbacks adding Corbin Burnes, and the Padres remaining a pretty decent team that challenged the Dodgers pretty firmly last year.

"None of these teams are going to give the Dodgers an easy walk to October or anything like that again. Once we get to October, it's just a different ball game, but it's about getting there. That's what it's about," Pasilas said. [12:18]

Dodgers and San Diego Padres among three finalists for Roki Sasaki

While the Padres haven't made any significant splash this offseason, their focus has been on young Japanese flamethrower Roki Sasaki right from the start. Along with the Dodgers, they were looked at as the favorites to sign the NPB star considering their west coast location and history with Japanese players.

Now, as per Ken Rosenthal's report, Sasaki has narrowed down his options from an initial pool of at least twenty teams to just three that include LA, San Diego and the Toronto Blue Jays. If the Padres land Sasaki, then it will make up for another exciting matchup against another one of the Dodgers' NL West rivals.

Sasaki, because of being an amateur international player under the age of 25, can sign between the eight day period from January 15th, the day the 2025 bonus pool starts, and January 23rd, the last day of his 45-day posting period.