Dodgers' latest roster decision could become ultimate nightmare for Padres

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced that Mookie Betts will be moving back to the infield in 2025. LA would not divulge if Betts will occupy second base or shortstop, thus leaving their options open during the offseason to fill yet another position with an impactful free agent acquisition.

Speaking of which, Betts moving from the outfield grass to the infield dirt is curious given the timing of this announcement. It just so happens that one of the best players in the game (who also plays right field) is a free agent this offseason. Are the Dodgers looking to bolster their roster even more by adding Juan Soto to the mix?

Dodgers' latest roster decision could become ultimate nightmare for Padres

This would be an outright disaster for the San Diego Padres, and frankly all of baseball. If Los Angeles' front office was somehow able to lure Soto back to the West Coast to play alongside Betts, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, you might as well just pencil in the Dodgers as World Series champions for the next decade.

It's already difficult for middle-of-the-road payroll clubs, like the Padres, to remain competitive with the big-market spenders. But if Soto lands in LA, more than half of the league will be powerless to overcome the All-Star laden roster the Dodgers would trot out on a nightly basis.

Thankfully, the Dodgers won't be the only team targeting the former Padres outfielder this winter. Both the New York Yankees and New York Mets are expected to be the top suitors for Soto's services. Soto is also said to prefer to East Coast to the West Coast, so that could work in the favor of either New York-based ball clubs.

There are obviously Padres fans who are sure to wonder why LA would even think about moving Betts back to the infield. While Betts is one of the premier hitters in the game, his defense in right field yielded -3 outs above average in 2024 and -7 OAA over the past two seasons combined. Betts has lost a step as well, ranking among the bottom-third of the league in terms of sprint speed.

Soto joining the Dodgers would be a nightmare scenario this offseason, and given the Padres' constraints, there's virtually no way for San Diego to offset that type of addition.

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