Why the Dodgers are bound to trade for Chris Archer this season
By Jason Reed
3. The Los Angeles Dodgers need to keep up with the rest of the league
Dodgers fans hate to hear this, but the rest of the MLB is only getting better and the Dodgers did not really do anything to improve this offseason.
That does not mean that they are not still World Series contenders, they definitely are. That does not mean that the Dodgers cannot win the World Series, they definitely still can. However, if the Dodgers do not capitalize on a potential serious chance to improve the team, when every other contender has, it can backfire as a huge mistake. See: Justin Verlander in 2017.
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The Cubs filled their losses nicely with former Dodgers Yu Darvish and Brandon Morrow. The New York Yankees brought in reigning NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton. Boston brought in J.D. Martinez. Even the defending World Series Champions got better and traded for Gerrit Cole.
Even non-playoff teams, like the Cardinals, went out and got Marcell Ozuna. The Milwaukee Brewers acquired Christian Yelich. The elite teams in the MLB are separating from the rest. Who did the Dodgers acquire? Matt Kemp, Tom Koehler and Scott Alexander.
That does not mean that those guys will not contribute, but LA cannot fall in the same complacent hole that plagued previous World Series losing teams, such as the New York Mets. Instead, the Dodgers need to take inspiration from the Kansas City Royals.
Kansas City lost the 2014 World Series in seven games to the San Fransisco Giants despite looking destined to win it all (as did the 2017 Dodgers). The next year, they brought in huge pieces in Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist to cement the push.
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Los Angeles must do the same to recreate the same feat as the Kansas City Royals. Chris Archer is the most suitable candidate to fill that role.