Fresh off of their second straight World Series title, the Los Angeles Dodgers have the chance to do what few teams have accomplished in baseball’s illustrious history.
Only the New York Yankees (1936-39, 1949-53, 1998-2000) and Oakland Athletics (1972-74) have won three consecutive World Series titles, and the Dodgers are hungry to add their name to the exclusive “three-peat” club.
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Joining the ranks of those legendary Yankees and Athletics teams is a tall task, and the Dodgers have already begun strengthening their roster, highlighted by the signing of top free agent closer Edwin Diaz, who agreed to a three-year, $69 million deal earlier this month.
On his show Foul Territory, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal gave a few keys for the Dodgers to consider as they seek their third consecutive title when they open up the season in late March.
Hunger to Win
Complacency can be a dynasty killer, and the Dodgers will need to be wary of their approach to both the regular season and postseason in order to stay hungry to win.
“It seems to me the one thing that has been of great benefit to the Dodgers over the last many years is their ability to retain a hunger,” Rosenthal said. “Now, it’s difficult during the regular season, and we’ve seen them at times — not check out during the regular season — but not be fully engaged and sometimes the way that they handle their players in regards to injuries, they kind of slow play things.”
Fortunately for the Dodgers, they return veteran leaders who should be in line to make sure younger players on the roster aren’t simply going through the motions. Among the returning clubhouse favorites is Miguel Rojas, who is a beloved member of the roster and is expected to have a role on the Dodgers’ player development staff after his MLB career is over.
Health
Obviously, health is of the utmost importance for any team looking to make a deep run in the postseason. The Dodgers were relatively healthy throughout the 2025 postseason, due much in part to their training staff’s excellent job of managing injuries throughout the season.
A team playing in the World Series plays roughly a month longer than a non-playoff team, and the extra usage can take a toll on players.
“What it will take is good health, first and foremost,” Rosenthal said. “And it’s tough when you come off a postseason as draining as that was, especially on your pitching staff. We saw the effects of ’24 on ’25 with some of their relievers last year.”
Relief pitchers Evan Phillips, Brock Stewart and Blake Treinen were all key members of the 2024 World Series season, and missed significant time in 2025 with lingering injuries. With the World Baseball Classic adding an extra layer of concern for the Dodgers, who expect multiple pitchers to participate, ensuring the health of their key players will be crucial for L.A.
Young Players Stepping Up
With multiple stars over 30, the Dodgers are one of the oldest teams in the major leagues. Their aging stars like Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman have shown that they are still among the league’s best, but the Dodgers could use a younger player on their roster to step up and provide a boost at the plate.
“But if they have good health and they get an injection of offense that’s maybe is going to come from some unexpected place,” Rosenthal said. “Maybe one of their young outfielders, maybe from a player they pick up, that would help as well. Some of their position players, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, they’re getting older. They’re still productive, and Mookie I know had a bad year, but they’re going to be good players. It’s just that the Dodgers probably need a little bit more of a lift offensively.”
The Dodgers have been in conversation to acquire an outfielder in free agency, but nothing has come to fruition. Either or both of Andy Pages and Tommy Edman coming into their own in 2026 would provide a major boost to the Dodgers.
Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
