The San Diego Padres are gearing up for a significant season, although their offseason was relatively quiet in comparison to their division rival, the Los Angeles Dodgers. The reigning World Series Champions only strengthened their already impressive roster, with notable additions like Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki.
Padres manager Mike Shildt isn’t overly concerned about the Dodgers’ star-studded lineup. The Dodgers boast some of baseball’s top players, including Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman, positioning them to potentially become the first baseball dynasty since the late ’90s Yankees. While the Padres, led by Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., have a strong roster, the question remains whether they can compete with the Dodgers’ powerhouse.
Shildt, however, is staying focused on his own team’s performance rather than fixating on the competition. “We only take care of what we can control. We respect the Dodgers, we compete against them and everyone else. We have 162 games, and they’re on the schedule. It’s about how we play, how we carry ourselves, and how we handle our business,” Shildt said. “We’ll prepare thoroughly for them, but I don’t want to waste mental energy thinking about any other team.”
The Dodgers have dominated the National League West for most of the past decade, winning the division in all but one year since 2013 (with the Giants claiming it in 2021). While the Padres have improved and made moves to contend, even defeating the Dodgers in the 2022 NLDS, they’ve still fallen short of their ultimate goal—a championship. San Diego hasn’t won the NL pennant since 1998, when they faced off against the legendary Yankees squad many consider the best of the modern era.
Despite the challenges, the Padres are well-equipped with talent to compete at the highest level. While 2025 could be a pivotal season, the Padres still possess enough star power to make a significant impact in the National League, even if their offseason was quiet. Though the Dodgers are the favorites, the Padres should not be underestimated.
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