The Los Angeles Dodgers made one of the offseason’s biggest splashes by signing Trevor Bauer to a record-setting contract, but their competition in the National League West — specifically the San Diego Padres — got stronger as well.
They added starting pitchers Blake Snell, Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove in separate blockbuster trades, upgraded their bullpen with Keone Kela and Mark Melancon, and signed infielder Ha-Seong Kim out of the KBO.
The spending spree was not something out of left field, as the Padres have shown they are willing to be aggressive in free agency for players who fit their vision.