After securing their second championship in five years, the Los Angeles Dodgers made waves this offseason by investing a staggering $452 million in eight key players. This bold move suggests that their ambitions extend beyond merely defending their World Series title; they seem to be eyeing something even more elusive.
Meanwhile, the Chicago White Sox have endured a season to forget, suffering a historic 121 losses— the most for any team in the major leagues post-1900. But could the Dodgers turn the tables and aim for an astonishing 115 wins? Infielder Miguel Rojas certainly thinks they can.
“I mean, you throw those guys out there, you win 120 games,” Rojas said on The Chris Rose Rotation podcast. “I know it’s a lot, but with that roster, you’re supposed to go out and win.”
The challenge is immense; the MLB’s single-season record of 116 wins still stands, held by the 1906 Chicago Cubs and the 2001 Seattle Mariners. Will the Dodgers be the team to shatter that record?
Miguel Rojas: Winning 120 Games Is ‘The Expectation’
When host Chris Rose asked the 35-year-old if 120 wins was a goal for the Dodgers, the veteran responded with confidence. “I don’t think it’s a goal—it’s an expectation,” he said. “It’s the expectation that we have. Like, it’s winning every single day. That’s why I put a number on it.
“I’m gonna shy away off telling you that we’re not able to win 120 games with that team that we have. If everybody is showing that they’re committed to do their part, it’s possible. It’s possible that we can win 115 games, 120 games, with that team being healthy and everybody ready to go.”
Of the seven teams that have won at least 110 games in a season, only three went on to capture the World Series: the 1998 Yankees (114-48), the 1927 Yankees (110-44), and the 1909 Pirates (110-42).
Dodgers Felt They Didn’t Have the Best Team
Rojas felt that the Dodgers didn’t have their best team in 2024 due to a patchwork postseason rotation and numerous question marks. This year’s team, he says, is “so deep and powerful that L.A. won’t need to rely as much on role players to step up.
“That’s why this (2024) team was special, not just because of the talent. If you think about it, you have three starters, and you don’t have all the stuff that we have right now. We didn’t have [Tyler] Glasnow, we didn’t have our other young starters that they’re supposed to be there.”
While Rojas’ prediction sets a high bar, it’s easy to see why the Dodgers are confident after a busy offseason. Los Angeles retained outfielder Teoscar Hernández and reliever Blake Treinen from its World Series roster, adding former Cy Young winner Blake Snell and top relievers Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates.
The Dodgers also made waves in international free agency, surprising no one by landing Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki and infielder Hyeseong Kim.
Even if 120 wins prove elusive, surpassing the 100-win mark remains a realistic goal. However, no team in the 21st century has successfully defended its title—the last repeat champions were the Yankees from 1998-2000.
Main Photo: © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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