The Dodgers were eliminated by the Padres in this year's playoffs with a record of 1 win and 3 losses. This year's Dodgers had another anticlimactic plot development, which gave people a full sense of déjà vu.

The Dodgers were eliminated by the Padres in this year's playoffs with 1 win and 3 losses.

This year's Dodgers had another anticlimactic plot development, giving people a full sense of déjà vu. Just like in previous years, they spent a lot of money to sign MVP outfielder Mookie Betts (first through a trade with the Red Sox) and Cy Young Award pitcher Bauer (Trevor Bauer). This time, the Dodger general manager was not idle. He just acquired another MVP before the start of the season - first baseman Freddie Freeman, who was originally planning to become a "career warrior". They did achieve a team-record 111 wins in the regular season. Even so, the Dodgers still failed in the first round of the division playoffs, for the second time in four years.

Although the playoffs, where life and death are decided in an instant, are often determined by people and God, the God of baseball always seems to be particularly ruthless to the Dodgers, who spend a lot of money to buy players every year but are repeatedly eliminated early. Can Dodge call a halt? Obviously not. Just like an arms race between major powers, there is no reason to stop unless the opponent is completely defeated or the enemy collapses on its own. What's more, the Dodgers are no longer as proud of the National League's invincible opponents as they were in previous years. The only potential opponents are the Astros from another league or a few strong teams in the American East. The Warriors have long been cultivating a new generation of stars. They failed to defend their title this year, but they will still be one of the most championship-worthy teams next year. At the same time, the Mets, who spent so much money that Major League Baseball set a "Cohen Tax" (the highest luxury tax threshold named after owner Cohen), kicked the Dodgers off the throne of the highest-paid team at the end of this season. Their silver bullet offensive will continue to increase in the next few years.

However, the most threatening thing for the Dodgers is the Padres, who have challenged their hegemony in recent years and finally completely overturned them in this year's playoffs. Some people believe that the Dodgers, who have exceeded the luxury tax threshold for two consecutive years and have been the biggest sufferer of the luxury tax in recent years, will use the release of Cody Bellinger after the end of this year's season to save nearly 20 million US dollars in salary, plus the opportunity to refuse to exercise the 16 million option of veteran third baseman Justin Turner, to lower the team's salary below the luxury tax threshold in one fell swoop. But the ancients said: "How can we allow others to snore on the side of the bed?" After being eliminated by the Padres, it is difficult to imagine that the Dodgers would immediately back down and give up the West Division throne to this emerging rival.

Bellinger (Cody Bellinger)

The Dodgers after this year's season ended more fragile than in previous years. Although the contract extension with Clayton Kershaw, the veteran starting pitcher who has the status of a god, is about to be completed, everyone knows that Kershaw is no longer the Kershaw who can carry ace pitchers wherever he goes. Even if there are rising stars such as Julio Urias and Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May who has returned from injury to shoulder the starting responsibility, Walker Buehler, who has undergone ligament reconstruction surgery, is likely to be out for the entire season next year, and two free agents, Andrew Heaney and Tyler Anderson, have left the team. The Dodgers' starting pitching staff has undoubtedly become very thin.

Secondly, in terms of outfielders , after the "two Turners" - the aforementioned third baseman Turner and star shortstop Trea Turner both left the team, it became unknown who would guard "half of the Dodgers' infield". Although retrieving the two of them is a solution, the problem is that the former is already 38 years old and is obviously not in his prime, while the latter, who is in his prime, is seeking a sky-high contract that is directly chasing Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor. He obviously has no intention of renewing his relationship with the Dodgers. Therefore, the heavy responsibility of shortstop is likely to fall on the young but promising Gavin Lux. There is also news that the Dodgers are planning to negotiate a deal with the Brewers for shortstop Willy Adames. As for the outfield, the vacancy left by Bellinger, whose hitting power has plummeted in the past two years, is obviously not difficult to fill. The other two outfielders on the team, Chris Taylor and Trayce Thompson, can seamlessly fill in.Recently, it has been reported that the Dodgers intend to recruit Kevin Kiermaier, a Gold Glove outfielder who is always known for his defensive skills. However, no matter who is the starter, it is likely that it will not slow down the decline of the Dodgers' outfield strength.

Star shortstop Trea Turner

What is the best solution for the Dodgers to return to glory again? Maybe the answer is right around the corner, because several of the big fish on this year's free-agent market fit exactly what they need in starting pitchers, shortstops and outfielders -- as long as they continue to spend money like they have in the past. As long as they invest heavily, Justin Verlander, who just won the Cy Young Award, and Jacob deGrom, who was once regarded as the best pitcher in active service, can make the Dodgers' starting pitching lineup "great again", followed by Carlos Rodon, who is pitching in a career year this year. So what if Turner runs away? There are three Mesozoic star shortstops on the market: Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson for you to choose from - as long as you are rich enough. As for the outfielders, even if the Dodgers general manager doesn't say anything, everyone is planning to send Aaron Judge, the biggest free agent on the market this year, to join them.

Judge Judge

Of course, the pockets of Dodgers owner Guggenheim Baseball Management are not without limits. It is absolutely impossible for the above-mentioned big-name player Dodge to say like the classic movie line: "I want them all." The luxury tax, which has become more and more onerous year after year, has made Dodge feel painful. This has led to calls for an early reduction of wages below the threshold to reset. However, no matter from the perspective of the objective situation or the team's face, we can't find a reason why the Dodgers should not continue to increase their investment to compete with today's major powers in the market. In the next month or two, their "money fight" with various teams is likely to be more exciting than the games on the field.