LA Dodgers’ 2024 Power Play: Can Edwin Diaz and Kyle Tucker Lead to a Historic 100 Wins?

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Yonhap News/AP

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▲ Kyle Tucker ⓒYonhap News/AP

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Yonhap News/AP

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▲ Edwin Diaz

[SportybiNews=Park Seung-hwan reporter] The lid hasn’t even been opened yet. But predictions alone suggest a unique 100-win season, with the postseason probability estimated at a staggering 99.1%. This is the story of the LA Dodgers.

On February 10 (Korean time), the American baseball statistics site ‘FanGraphs’ took time to select power rankings, including predicting the postseason probability for all 30 MLB teams. The Dodgers were, as expected, overwhelming.

Ahead of the 2024 season, the Dodgers, who had swept up all the major resources including Shohei Ohtani , Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow, recorded 98 wins and 64 losses with a .605 winning percentage in the regular season to win the National League West division, and then defeated the New York Yankees in the World Series (WS) to ascend to the throne. But the Dodgers’ reinforcement was not over.

During the last offseason, the Dodgers embraced Blake Snell, the ‘Cy Young Award winner in both leagues’, and even recruited Kim Hye-sung, who challenged the Major League through the posting system, once again focusing on strengthening their power. They topped the Western Division again with 93 wins and 69 losses, a .574 winning percentage. And while they were at it, they toppled the Toronto Blue Jays on the World Series (WS) stage, achieving a second consecutive championship.

The Dodgers’ moves this winter were more passive compared to previous years. However, although they only recruited two players called ‘big names’, the Dodgers’ power has become even more formidable than last year. These are Edwin Diaz and Kyle Tucker.

As the Dodgers had struggled with the absence of not only setup men but also closers last year, when Diaz, who has appeared in 520 games over 9 seasons with a record of 28 wins, 36 losses, 23 holds, 253 saves, and an ERA of 2.82, entered the FA (free agent) market, they captured his heart by offering a 3-year, 69 million USD (approximately 100.5 billion KRW) contract. But that wasn’t all.

The Dodgers were also aiming to strengthen their outfield along with the bullpen, and they even embraced Kyle Tucker, who had marked 748 hits, 147 home runs, 119 stolen bases, a .273 batting average, and an OPS of .865 in 769 games over 8 seasons. Unlike other teams, the Dodgers quietly pursued Tucker’s recruitment behind the scenes, and embraced him with a massive 4-year, 240 million USD (approximately 349.6 billion KRW) contract. It was truly a moment that shocked everyone.

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Yonhap News/AP

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▲ Kyle Tucker ⓒYonhap News/AP

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Yonhap News/AP

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▲ Edwin Diaz beamed in his LA Dodgers uniform. ⓒ LA Dodgers social media

The Dodgers, who had ascended to the World Series throne for two consecutive years, have noticeably improved their power despite recruiting only two players. It’s not an exaggeration to call them the strongest team in the division. Accordingly, ‘FanGraphs’ ranked the Dodgers as No. 1 in their power rankings at the start of spring camp. FanGraphs utilized both Steamer and ZiPS for more detailed performance predictions.

‘FanGraphs’ predicted that the Dodgers would record 100 wins and 62 losses this year, while estimating their postseason probability at a whopping 99.1%. They stated, “The Dodgers have won championships for two consecutive years. Even if there had been no offseason reinforcement, they didn’t settle for the power that was already at least at the Major League level,” and added, “Instead, they chose to further enhance their power, bringing in Diaz for bullpen stability and Tucker for the right field position.”

They continued, “This attitude of constantly seeking improvement and not being satisfied with the status quo is the biggest reason why the LA Dodgers have been evaluated as an exemplary franchise for over 10 years,” and added, “Although the nature of baseball means that having the strongest power on paper at spring camp doesn’t necessarily guarantee a trophy in the fall, the Dodgers have done almost everything they could this winter to finish the postseason with a three-peat.”

Following the Dodgers, the Atlanta Braves, to which Kim Ha-seong belongs, were predicted to be second with 91 wins and 71 losses, with a postseason probability of 87.6%. The San Francisco Giants, where Lee Jung-hoo is playing, were predicted to have 82 wins and 80 losses, with a 37.2% chance of making the postseason. Song Seong-moon’s San Diego Padres received a harsh evaluation with 80 wins and 82 losses, and a 24.4% chance of fall baseball.

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Yonhap News/AP

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▲ Kim Ha-seong

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Yonhap News/AP

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▲ Lee Jong Hoo

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Yonhap News/AP

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▲ Song Seong-moon ⓒKiwoom Heroes