The offseason in Major League Baseball has seen two teams as the clear protagonists, with the New York Mets acquiring Juan Soto as the most sought-after free agent and the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have been insatiable in strengthening their roster and establishing themselves as favorites to retain the World Series title.
MLB fans are upset with the way the Dodgers have managed to attract talent, with a deferred payment system, and were able to impose their negotiating expertise to convince the other jewel of the winter market, Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki, that they were his best option to start his career in the major leagues.
The Dodgers also signed Blake Snell, one of the best arms available, along with Corbin Burnes. They also brought back Teoscar Hernandez from free agency and acquired Tanner Scott, one of the best relievers on the winter market.
Can the Mets challenge the Dodgers?
This Dodgers team is compared to the Evil Empire of the Yankees of a few years ago, and the Mets, with the wealthiest owner in MLB, billionaire Steve Cohen, are looking to become contenders, their rivals to beat are their city neighbors and in the National League, the Dodgers.
Regarding this, Eric Chavez, the Mets hitting coach, seems that although he recognizes his excitement for the challenge, he may not be in complete harmony with owner Steve Cohen, by hinting that the Dodgers are the team to beat next season, despite the $765 million investment in Juan Soto.
“In the early 90s, in the 2000s, the Evil Empire came to the Oakland Coliseum. The Athletics against the New York Yankees. We competed. Obviously they beat us in the playoffs a couple of times… I accepted the challenge, I loved it. I didn’t feel like a loser and I didn’t care that they made more money than us. David and Goliath, that’s how I felt. Let’s go,” Eric Chavez said
The Mets hitting coach said he was happy to be with “an owner who is willing to compete in the current climate” and added that he can’t wait for the day when they will face the Dodgers in what could be a new edition of David vs. Goliath. However, he questioned whether the Los Angeles team’s business plan could be sustainable and left in the air what will be decided in the next Major League Baseball agreement.