Definitely-Sure sounds like the Padres are throwing a wrench into the Dodgers’ superteam dreams

It seems like the Padres are throwing a wrench into the Dodgers’ quest to build a superteam.

San Diego is in need of a major win to keep up with their division rivals, and they may be on the verge of getting just that.

The Los Angeles Dodgers made a big move early this offseason by signing Blake Snell to a five-year, $182 million deal, immediately adding a two-time Cy Young winner to their roster to address a key need. After winning the World Series, it’s a bold move for the team, and with their virtually unlimited resources, Andrew Friedman and company are far from finished. While L.A. might no longer be seriously pursuing Juan Soto, they are still linked to other big names like Corbin Burnes, Max Fried, Teoscar Hernandez, and Nolan Arenado, making it feel like the Dodgers are poised to dominate the 2025 season before the Winter Meetings even begin.

However, for the rest of the league, there’s a chance that one of their rivals may hand the Dodgers a rare setback. It’s well known that Los Angeles would love to add Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki, a top-tier talent available at a significantly lower cost. While the Dodgers were initially considered the frontrunners to land Sasaki—especially after successfully recruiting fellow Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto last offseason—the San Diego Padres may now be in the lead.

Though Sasaki and his representatives have kept quiet about his decision, some recent reports suggest the Padres are ahead of the Dodgers in the race for his services. This wouldn’t be the first time the Padres have been considered the favorites, and it’s unclear what Sasaki truly wants. Perhaps he prefers not to play in L.A.’s spotlight or doesn’t want to share endorsement deals with other Japanese stars like Ohtani and Yamamoto.

Securing Sasaki would be a major victory for the Padres, allowing them to stay competitive with the Dodgers without adding significant payroll, given their already hefty contracts. If the Padres land Sasaki, they could surpass L.A. in pitching depth and solidify a roster that already looked dangerous in October.