There is a new evil empire in baseball, and while they might not resemble the Sith quite as much as the late 90s-early 2000s Yankees, the Los Angeles Dodgers are undoubtedly a supervillain.
“My ultimate big picture goal is that, when we are done, we’re able to look back and say that was the golden era of Dodger baseball,” said president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman last year before Game 1 of the 2024 World Series.
This is the “golden era” of Dodger baseball, and there is no end in sight.
The dynasty that has been brewing in Los Angeles for the past decade finally got its official stamp of approval when the Dodgers beat the Blue Jays in Game 7 of the World Series, and it is probably just the tip of the iceberg for the rest of the league.
After accomplishing their goal of becoming the first team to win back-to-back titles in 25 years, another trophy is already on their mind.
“This group of guys was never going to be denied from bringing this city another championship,” said manager Dave Roberts during the World Series victory celebration at Dodger Stadium. “I talked to my good friend Pat Riley, and he gave me the okay to use this phrase. What is better than two? Three! Three-peat!”
While two is impressive, three in a row would have appeared impossible just a couple of seasons ago. Despite making the postseason every year since 2013 and having the best record in the National League five times during the stretch, the Dodgers only had one championship to show for it. Now, three consecutive titles feel slightly inevitable.
“My teammates have been pretty humble, but I think it is time to talk about it. Everyone has been asking questions about a dynasty. How about 3 in 6 years? How about back-to-back? We are a dynasty, and I want to take this time to apologize to absolutely nobody,” said Kike Hernandez with several expletives added in.
Their path through the 2025 National League postseason bracket was about as grueling as it gets. A three-game Wild Card series is not an easy place to start, but the defending champs squashed the Reds like a bug before beating a 96-win Phillies team 3-1 in the National League Division Series, and sweeping the first-place Brewers in the Championship Series.
What should have been a long road just to reach the World Series essentially acted as a warm-up for the Dodgers. They were not challenged once.
The only real test came in the World Series. The Blue Jays had the best chance to slow down the train, and they were two outs away from bringing it to a complete stop before Miguel Rojas tied Game 7 with a home run in the top of the ninth inning.
“Out of all the teams we played, I knew the Blue Jays would be the hardest team. When they were down against Seattle, I kept thinking something was going to happen and they were going to win,” said Tyler Glasnow. “There were certain things on the scouting report that were glaring weaknesses, but it didn’t really work. They are a really good team.”
Toronto had dominant pitching performances, timely hitting, and an all-time postseason performance from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., but they still came up short.
“They hit better than us, and I am thinking about our team, and we never really got up, and we never got down. We never really played that well the whole time, and we won a World Series. That’s how nasty we were, and that is something to be proud of,” said Mookie Betts.
The Blue Jays were at their best, as hot as a team can be, while the Dodgers played the most mediocre baseball they had all October, and still won.
If the 2025 Toronto Blue Jays could not take down the mighty Dodgers, who can? The simple answer might be nobody. The big spenders that underwhelmed this season, such as the Yankees, Mets, and Padres, better retool and come back with more intention.
Meanwhile, the franchises that have been unwilling to open their checkbooks might want to change their philosophy. If not, fans will be complaining once again that the Dodgers ruined baseball.
Are they a young team? No. Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, Max Muncy, Teoscar Hernandez, Tommy Edman, Tyler Glasnow, and Blake Snell are all past their 30th birthday. But it does not matter because their superstar player’s contract will not be on the books until 2033.
When Shohei Ohtani deferred $680 million of his $700 million deal, it ensured the team would remain competitive for the entirety of his time in Los Angeles. It allowed them to acquire star pitchers in Glasnow, Snell, and World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
The front office has vowed to utilize the extra resources to continue adding talent, and it would not be surprising to see them make another big splash this offseason, not because they need to, but because they can.
In 2025, the Dodgers had the best all-around player, an All-Star starting rotation, an incredibly deep lineup, one of the best catchers, the most versatile bench, and the winningest active postseason manager. Most of that equation will stay the same in 2026 and beyond.
This is a dynasty that has already cemented itself, yet remains hungry for so much more. A roster that has the opportunity to go down as the greatest baseball team ever assembled, with an ownership group and front office that is already looking at the team from every angle and trying to decide how they can be even better.
The dynasty has only just begun. It is now the Los Angeles Dodgers versus the world.
Benjamin Verbrugge is a reporter for News4usonline who studied journalism at CSU Dominguez Hills. “Sports have brought me much joy throughout my life, and I want to give a little back to something that has meant so much to me.” Email Benjamin at benverbrugge8@gmail.com.
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