Former All-Star Pitcher Praises Dodgers for Creating Winning Environment That Lures Free Agents
Since 2013, the Los Angeles Dodgers have won 1,031 games, the most in MLB. The Yankees are in second place by a margin of 91 wins, effectively a full season's worth of playoff-caliber baseball.
For perspective, 91 wins also separates the Yankees and the Washington Nationals, but the Nationals have the 12th-most wins in that period.
This level of dominance draws premier free agents to the Dodgers because they want the best shot at winning the World Series. For those who downplay the correlation between regular-season and postseason success, take it from a former player.
All-Star reliever Brad Lidge recently commented on the Dodgers' winning ways and how it resonates with free agents. Speaking on MLB Network, Lidge said:
You can say whatever you want about unfair advantages, but the fact that they’ve won as consistently and as continuously as they have made Shohei Ohtani say, ‘I want to go to that team.’ And after that happened, and after how that contract was structured, everyone else just followed suit… Give them credit for the empire they have created, for the winning ways they have demonstrated over the last decade.
Winning starts at the top of any organization. Guggenheim Baseball Partners have invested in the organization's infrastructure — everything from nutrition, to travel, coaches, scouts, and technological investments. They have empowered president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman to make prudent moves for the team with their financial backing.
With that support, Friedman and the front office have created a winning culture with a team-first mentality. Dodgers' slugger Max Muncy recently talked about this mentality and how much it means to the Dodgers as a whole.
All of this together, has consistently lured big-name free agents to help continue the winning ways. This offseason has offered ample evidence of the Dodgers' attractiveness as a destination. Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Teoscar Hernández highlight a "billion-dollar offseason" in Los Angeles that will be talked about for years.
The Dodgers have the NL West title 11 of the last 12 years, and made it to the World Series three times. Now, with arguably the best roster they've put together, the team will look to make it back to the Fall Classic a fourth time in 13 years.
Win or lose, the franchise's reputation in the eyes of players is as solid as it can get.
