#los-angeles-dodgers

#los-angeles-dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell is taking over Clayton Kershaw's old locker at Spring Training, a symbolic passing of the torch from one lefty to another. Kershaw, after spending his entire career in Dodger blue and cementing himself as one of the greatest pitchers of all time, made the tough decision to retire amid a series of injuries and his growing family needing him to be home rather than on the road for 162 games plus the entire postseason. The lefty got to go out on his own terms, as a champion who got a ceremonial last start at Dodger Stadium.

"I'm excited. I mean, I think we should just start the season now," he said. "The offseason has flown by, but I'm excited to get back out there with these guys and get the season rolling."

The Dodgers did not win the most regular-season games in 2025 (the Milwaukee Brewers did!), but they were the team that won the final game of baseball's playoffs. The formidable Toronto Blue Jays entered Game 6 of the World Series with a chance to dethrone the defending champs and they had multiple chances to win an extraordinary Game 7, but ultimately, the Dodgers became the first repeat champions since the 2000 New York Yankees.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have unveiled their special ticket packages for the 2026 season, including exclusive giveaways for buying tickets to specific games. The Dodgers are getting ready to defend their World Series title, hoping to achieve the first three-peat in more than two decades of baseball. With the season quickly approaching, the Dodgers released their select dates for celebrating parts of the fanbase or following a theme. For these events, the team gives away a piece of merchandise, but a special event ticket is required, so not every ticket is eligible to receive the item on the day of the giveaway.

On Feb. 10, 2020, the Los Angeles Dodgers finalized their three-team trade with the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins to acquire Mookie Betts and David Price. It marked the end of a whirlwind period that saw multiple deals fall apart. The Red Sox initially were set to receive Alex Verdugo and Brusdar Graterol, but sought additional compensation after taking issue with the latter's medicals. The right-hander instead was sent to the Dodgers for a package that centered around Kenta Maeda.

Congratulations to the Seattle Seahawks on their victory, but all they and the New England Patriots proved is that sometimes the big game is nothing but a big boring slog. Especially compared to the 2025 World Series in which the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers told a story full of drama, excitement and memorable moments over a seven game series that went down to the wire.

Sasaki primarily threw a four-seam fastball and splitter in his first big league season, often struggling with location and velocity as a starter. His splitter was a plus pitch when he could land it in the zone or get hitters behind in the count, but that was an issue for most of his season. An effective third pitch would go a long way toward Sasaki's potential success as a starter, along with smoothing out his mechanics.

When the Los Angeles Dodgers traded Davey Lopes to the Oakland Athletics for Lance Hudson on February 8, 1982, it marked the end of the longest-running infield in MLB history. That stretch began June 23, 1973, when the Dodgers lineup included Steve Garvey at first base, Lopes at second base, Ron Cey at third base and Bill Russell playing shortstop in the second game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds.

On February 7, 1987, Orel Hershiser signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers for $800,000, taking a pay cut of 20% from his previous season's salary. It was only the second time since MLB implemented the rule that a player takes less pay due to salary arbitration. During the first Collective Bargaining Agreement between MLB and the Players Association in 1968, the max salary reduction allowed was set at 20%.

The Dodgers have won back-to-back titles and had only two real weaknesses last year - no impact closer and below-average defense in right field. Well, they addressed both of those areas, signing the top closer in the NL, Edwin Díaz, and the top-overall free agent, Kyle Tucker, to play right field. They had the best team in baseball before those moves; now, they're set up nicely to three-peat, clear favorites to win it all again.

"Infusing young players over that time is going to be really important for us to be able to maintain (this level of success),"

"I've really planned to play any position they ask," Rushing said at DodgerFest on Saturday. "Whether I've played it before or I haven't, just - like I said - take advantage of every opportunity. I know catching, first base are going to be the main two."