The Los Angeles Dodgers are trying to add to their illustrious resume this season with a third straight World Series title. But what does 2027 hold?
It is hard to believe, but the 2026 Major League Baseball season is already in the midst of its final week.
Some clubs are still fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive. Otherwise, the winners and losers of the year are well defined at this point.
As the season winds down its final days, The Athletic has made an addition to its recent power rankings: a category that looks ahead to next season.
The Los Angeles Dodgers landed at No. 2 on the list as they trail the Milwaukee Brewers in their hunt for a third-straight World Series title. While the immediate goal is most important, let’s see what the future looks like for the Dodgers.
They're the Dodgers — that’s it
Seriously, the name and success of this organization is what The Athletic believes its fans have to look forward to next season.
It is reasonable to think this way. After all, the Dodgers are trying to become just the third team in MLB history to win three-straight World Series titles.
However, something to keep in mind that is also associated with the Dodgers in these power rankings is the fact that there might not be an MLB season in 2027. There is a lockout on the horizon, and many critics blame this club for its impending nature.
Los Angeles’ front office just played by the current rules in order to win, and while those rules might introduce a work stoppage in an effort to change them, understanding where the Dodgers will be after the fact is worth exploring.
This team is star-studded. But even the best of teams start to show cracks in the foundation, especially when they are aging like this group is. Look at what Shohei Ohtani has had to deal with this year, and his injuries may prohibit this team from joining the history books.
He is not the only one, as other veterans on the roster have also dealt with their own ailments. A 162-game slate is not easy, especially for a team whose average age is 30.7 according to ESPN.
The good news for the Dodgers is that they have good young talent that should also get even better in time for the 2027 season, if there is one. The farm system is strong, and players like Ohtani and Mookie Betts still have good years ahead of them, even if they are getting older.
Overall, it is hard not to be optimistic about the back-to-back World Series champions, both now and moving forward.
