Can MLB's Worst Teams Combine to Challenge the Dominant Dodgers?

The 2025 Los Angeles Dodgers: A Talent Powerhouse

The 2025 Los Angeles Dodgers are arguably one of the most talented teams ever assembled in MLB history. With a roster featuring reigning National League MVP Shohei Ohtani, former MVP winners Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Clayton Kershaw, and a host of All-Stars, the Dodgers are a force to be reckoned with. Their offseason acquisitions, including Japanese Cy Young Award winner Yoshinobu Yamamoto and two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell, have only solidified their dominance.

The Disparity Between the Dodgers and the League's Bottom

The incredible talent gap between the Dodgers and the league's worst teams raises an intriguing question: How many of MLB's worst teams would it take to construct a roster capable of beating the Dodgers? To answer this, we used projected WAR and playing time from FanGraphs to build two 30-man rosters: one for the Dodgers and one for a combined team of the league's worst.

Building the Challenger Roster

We started with the projected worst team in MLB, the Chicago White Sox, and gradually added teams until we constructed a roster that could match the Dodgers. Here's how it played out:

1. Dodgers vs. Chicago White Sox

   • Dodgers: 54.8 WAR
   • White Sox: 21.2 WAR
   • Dodgers lead by 33.6 wins

2. Dodgers vs. White Sox, Colorado Rockies, and Miami Marlins

   • Dodgers: 54.8 WAR
   • Combined: 42.4 WAR
   • Dodgers lead by 12.4 wins

3. Dodgers vs. White Sox, Marlins, Rockies, and Washington Nationals

   • Dodgers: 54.8 WAR
   • Combined: 49.7 WAR
   • Dodgers lead by 5.1 wins

4. Dodgers vs. White Sox, Marlins, Rockies, Nationals, and Los Angeles Angels

   • Dodgers: 54.8 WAR
   • Combined: 50.1 WAR
   • Dodgers lead by 4.7 wins

5. Dodgers vs. White Sox, Marlins, Rockies, Nationals, Angels, and Oakland Athletics

   • Dodgers: 54.8 WAR
   • Combined: 55.0 WAR
   • Standings: Essentially even

The Final Roster Comparison

After adding six teams, the combined roster finally matched the Dodgers in projected WAR. The Dodgers' roster, led by Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman, was nearly equaled by a team constructed from the league's worst. However, the Dodgers' pitching staff, despite being slightly behind in WAR, remains a formidable force.

Conclusion

While it took six of MLB's worst teams to match the Dodgers' projected WAR, the real-life performance of these teams may differ. The Dodgers' star power and depth make them a tough opponent, but this exercise highlights the potential of combining talent from multiple teams to challenge the league's best.

Would you believe that these teams are equal? The projections suggest they are, but the Dodgers' track record of exceeding expectations makes them a perennial favorite.