Are the Dodgers World Series or Bust This Year? MLB Executives Don’t Seem to Think So

Each season, the Los Angeles Dodgers and their fans have extremely high expectations – World Series or bust. This year is no different and might be leaning a little more towards the World Series because of the $1.2 billion spent in the offseason.

For ESPN baseball insider Buster Olney, the Dodgers are one of three teams who entered this season with World Series or bust mentalities. The New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies are the other two.

What makes these three teams so special? Olney recently joined Doug McKain and revealed the gritty details.

“I remember saying early in the year, I thought that there were three teams that were ‘must-win-the-World-Series’ this year,” Olney said. “One would be the Yankees, maybe the only year they have Juan Soto. Two would be the Phillies, who were the best team in baseball in the middle of last October and didn’t finish off and win the World Series. Number three were the Dodgers.

“I’ve mentioned that to some executives, and they have said, ‘No, they’re not.’ They’re not absolutely must-win the World Series or bust in terms of how they’re doing things because, unlike the Yankees, who we don’t know what they’re going to be in 2025, we know the Dodgers are going to be great. We know the Dodgers are probably going to be great in 2026 with the makeup of the roster, and Andrew (Friedman) has done a great job of managing the payroll. So, I don’t think there’s that absolute ‘gotta have it right now’ in the way that there is for the Yankees to upgrade the roster before this year’s trade deadline.”

Based on Olney’s comments, Dodgers fans can breathe a sigh of relief. This team is set up for years to come. They have been decimated with injuries during the first half and need to get healthy before the expectations can be realistic. While not winning is disappointing at the moment, there are plenty more opportunities down the road to be even better.

Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

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