MLB insider offers Padres' fans glimmer of hope amid Dodgers' dominant offseason

Padres fans have been put through the ringer this off-season. In what seems to be a constant stream of bad news, the team has quickly found themselves on the backfoot before the season has even begun, leaving fans wondering if AJ Preller will make one of his characteristic league shaking moves. As the Padres struggle to gain any momentum, rival Los Angeles Dodgers have had a dominant off-season, but one weakness could allow the Padres just enough space to push past.

While San Diego has been stagnant and remains one of just four teams to not sign a major league free agent so far, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been improving on what was already a very strong World Series winning team, but they may not be improving in the right areas. Signing what seems to be every big name pitcher on the market, and with another in Kirby Yates close behind, the Dodgers pitching staff is set to be one of the strongest in the league. It is the defense however that could let the Dodgers down in 2025, as one MLB insider offers in a recent report.

Dodgers defensive flaws add hope for Padres

In an article by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Dodgers have one very glaring weakness, an aging and just about average defense. As Padres fans look for any potential flaw to bash their neighbors to the north, a shaky outfield and relatively new infield for Los Angles could be just the fuel Pads fans have wanted.

Starting with the infield, the Dodgers have two positions relatively locked up. First base belongs to future Hall of Famer Freddie Freeman, who will most likely continue his dominant numbers against the Padres in 2025. The only question about Freeman is his age and durability, heading into his 16th season at 35-years-old after undergoing ankle surgery in December 2024. Although the injury caused Freeman to miss the last three games of the regular season, he was back for the post season and is expected to be fully healthy by Opening Day.

On the other side of the infield, Max Muncy seems to have locked up the starting job at third base. Muncy, just one year younger than Freeman, is entering his 10th season in the MLB. An oblique injury sidelined him for much of the season in 2024, limiting him to only 73 games. Much like Freeman, durability and age is the biggest question for Muncy heading into 2025.

Now heading into the more questionable parts of the Dodgers infield, the middle. Recent addition from the KBO Kim Hye-seong is slotted in to be the Dodgers everyday second baseman after the trading Gavin Lux to the Reds. There is no reason to believe that Kim will be bad in the MLB; his four KBO Gold Glove awards, three at second and one at short show his defensive prowess, but the transition to the MLB can be challenging for anyone.

At short, Mookie Betts is looking to make the transition from right field, something that Padres fans experienced the opposite of with Tatis Jr. moving from shortstop to right field. Betts, now 32, has spent considerable time at second in his career, but is looking to become the Dodgers full time shortstop in 2025. Spring training could offer a glimpse of how well he has made that transition.

The outfield is another question for Los Angeles, who have deployed Teoscar Hernandez, Tommy Edman, and Michael Conforto as their starters from left to right. Both Hernandez and Conforto, although playing corner outfield positions for most of their careers, have both been criticized for their lack of range, while Tommy Edman is historically an infielder.