Dodgers News: Padres Loud Winter Won't Change LA's Strategy

Dodgers president says his team is still good to compete against anyone

The Los Angeles Dodgers have owned the NL West for the better part of a decade. 

They've won nine division titles in the process and are projected to capture another in 2023. However, this year is not a given as division rival San Diego Padres will challenge them for that title and are among the favorites to win the World Series. 

LA's sights are set higher than the division title as they still have the resources to appear and win the World Series this year despite their losses in the offseason. 

The Padres made huge splashes this past offseason and will be a humongous threat to the Boys in Blue. 

However, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman spoke to the media and said he still believes in his team despite the moves made by their rivals. 

"Yeah, I'm not sure people always felt that way going into the year. It played out that way. There have been plenty of years where people have projected it to be tighter than it's been. But yeah, the Padres are a really good team, we feel like we're a really good team too. And, I think our mindset every year is, every game is really important and trying to maximize winning each and every night. So it's no different in that respect. I do envisioned it to be a very tight race, but I feel like our mindset always is to do what we can to win that night's game and definitely will be front and center for us this year."

Compared to the Padres, the Dodgers were quiet this past offseason, and even though they were in on practically every-top free agent, they failed to acquire one of them. 

Still, according to Fox Sports, LA remains one of the best teams in the league and has the fourth-best odds to win the World Series at +700. 

LA will not repeat their 111-win performance in 2023; however, they still have a formidable squad led by veterans Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. I'll take my chances with those two guys and let the chips fall where they may. 

162 games are still ahead of the Dodgers, and the front office can make moves to better the team. In the meantime, LA will roll with what they have and play Dodger baseball.