Category: Baseball

The celebration had hardly begun, when Shohei Ohtani first voiced the theme of the day.

“I’m already thinking about the third time,” he said in Japanese, standing atop a double-decker bus in downtown Los Angeles with thousands of blue-clad, flag-waving, championship-celebrating Dodgers fans lining the streets around him for the team’s 2025 World Series parade.

Turns out, he wasn’t alone.

Two days removed from a dramatic Game 7 victory that made the Dodgers baseball’s first repeat champion in 25 years, the team rolled through the streets of downtown and into a sold-out rally at Dodger Stadium on Monday already thinking about what lies ahead in 2026.

With three titles in the last six seasons, their modern-day dynasty might now be cemented.

Read more:Photos: World Series champion Dodgers parade through Downtown L.A.

But their goal of adding to this “golden era of Dodger baseball,” as top executive Andrew Friedman has repeatedly called it, is far from over.

“All I have to say to you,” owner and chairman Mark Walter told the 52,703 fans at the team’s stadium rally, “is we’ll be back next year.”

“I have a crazy idea for you,” Friedman echoed. “How about we do it again?”

When manager Dave Roberts took the mic, he tripled down on that objective: “What’s better than two? Three! Three-peat! Three-peat! Let’s go.”

When shortstop Mookie Betts, the only active player with four World Series rings, followed him, he quadrupled the expectation: “I got four. Now it’s time to fill the hand all the way up, baby. ‘Three-peat’ ain’t never sounded so sweet. Somebody make that a T-shirt.”

For these history-achieving, legacy-sealing Dodgers, Monday was a reminder of the ultimate end goal — the kind of scene that, as they embark on another short winter, will soon fuel their motivations for another confetti-filled parade this time next year.

“For me, winning a championship, the seminal moment of that is the parade,” Friedman said. “The jubilation of doing it, when you get the final out, whatever game you win it in, is special. That night is special. But to be able to take a breath and then experience a parade, in my mind, that is what has always driven me to want to win.”

“[To] do this for the city, that’s what it’s all about,” first baseman Freddie Freeman added. “There’s nothing that feels as important as winning a championship. And if so happens to be three in a row, that’s what it is. But that’s what’s gonna drive us to keep going.”

Last November, the Dodgers’ first parade in 36 years was a novelty.

Much of the group had been part of the 2020 title team that was denied such a serenade following that pandemic-altered campaign. They had waited four long years to experience a city-wide celebration. The reception they received was sentimental and unique.

Now, as third baseman Max Muncy said with a devious grin from atop a makeshift stage in the Dodger Stadium outfield, “it’s starting to get a little bit comfortable up here. Let’s keep it going.”

“Losing,” star pitcher and World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto added, in English, in a callback to one of his memorable quotes from this past October, “isn’t an option.”

Doing it won’t be easy.

This year, the Dodgers’ win total went down to 93 in an inconsistent regular season. They had to play in the wild-card round for the first time since the playoffs expanded in 2022. And in the World Series, they faced elimination in Games 6 and 7, narrowly winning both to complete their quest to repeat.

“I borderline still can’t believe we won Game 7,” fan favorite Kiké Hernández said in a bus-top interview.

But, he quickly added, “We’re all winners. Winners win.”

Thus, they also get celebrations like Monday’s.

As it was 367 days earlier, the Dodgers winded down a parade route in front of tens of thousands of fans from Temple Street to Grand Avenue to 7th Street to Figueroa. Both on board the double-decker buses and in the frenzied masses below, elation swirled and beverages flowed.

Once the team arrived at Dodger Stadium, it climbed atop a blue circular riser in the middle of the field — the final symbolic steps of their ascent back to the mountaintop of the sport.

Anthony Anderson introduced them to the crowd, while Ice Cube delivered the trophy in a blue 1957 Chevy Bel Air.

Familiar scenes, they are hoping become an annual tradition.

“Job in 2024, done. Job in 2025, done,” Freeman said. “Job in 2026? Starts now.”

The Dodgers did take time to recognize their newfound place in baseball history, having become just the sixth MLB franchise to win three titles in the span of six years and the first since the New York Yankees of 1998 to 2000 to win in consecutive years.

Where last year’s parade day felt more like an overdue coronation, this one served to crystallize their legacy.

“Everybody’s been asking questions about a dynasty,” Hernández said. “How about three in six years? How about a back-to-back?”

And, on Monday, all the main characters of this storybook accomplishment got their moment in the sun.

There was, as team broadcaster and rally emcee Joe Davis described him, “the Hall of Fame-bound” Roberts, who now only trails Walter Alston in team history with three World Series rings.

“We talked about last year, wanting to run it back,” he said. “And I’ll tell you right now, this group of guys was never gonna be denied to bring this city another championship.”

There was Game 7 hero Miguel Rojas calling up surprise October closer Roki Sasaki, on his birthday, to dance to his “Bailalo Rocky” entrance song; a request Sasaki sheepishly obliged by pumping his fist to the beat.

Yamamoto, coming off his heroic pitching victories in Games 6 and 7, received some of the day’s loudest ovations.

“We did it together,” he said. “I love the Dodgers. I love Los Angeles.”

Muncy, Ohtani and Blake Snell also all addressed the crowd.

“I’m trying to get used to this,” Snell said.

“I’m ready to get another ring next year,” Ohtani reiterated.

One franchise face who won’t be back for that chase: Clayton Kershaw, who rode into the sunset of retirement by getting one last day at Dodger Stadium, fighting back tears as he thanked the crowd at the end of his illustrious (and also Hall of Fame-bound) 18-year career.

“Last year, I said I was a Dodger for life. And today, that’s true,” Kershaw said. “And today, I get to say that I’m a champion for life. And that’s never going away.”

Kershaw, of course, is one of the few still around from the club’s dark days of the early 2010s, when money was scarce and playoff appearances were uncertain and parades were only things to dream about — not expect.

As he walks away, however, the team has been totally transformed.

Now, the Dodgers have been to 13 straight postseasons. They’ve set payroll records and bolstered their roster with a wave of star signings. They’ve turned the pursuit of championships into a yearly expectation, proud but unsatisfied with what they’ve achieved to this point.

“I think, definitionally, it’s a dynasty,” said Friedman, the architect of this run with the help of Walter’s deep-pocketed Guggenheim ownership group. “But that to me, in a lot of ways, that kind of caps it if you say, ‘OK, this is what it is.’ For me, it’s still evolving and growing. We want to add to it. We want to continue it, and do everything we can to put it at a level where people after us have a hard time reaching.”

Read more:Complete coverage: How the Dodgers won the 2025 World Series

On Monday, they raised that bar another notch higher.

“This parade was the most insane thing I’ve ever witnessed, been a part of,” Kershaw said. “It truly is the most incredible day ever to be able to end your career on.”

On Tuesday, the Dodgers’ long road toward holding another one begins.

“I know they’re gonna get one more next year,” Kershaw told the crowd. “And I’m gonna watch, just like all of you.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Mets OF Juan Soto has officially been named a finalist for the 2025 National League MVP. 

The other two finalists are Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber. 

While Los Angeles’ two-way talent is viewed as the favorite by most around the game, Soto put up an awfully strong fight down the stretch in the first year of his historic contract in Queens. 

The 26-year-old was able to overcome a slow start and All-Star snub to finish with terrific numbers across the board.

He topped his career-high set just last season with the Yankees and was second on the team with 43 homers.   

Soto drove in 105 runs and drew a league-high 127 walks to help him finish with a .396 OBP and .921 OPS.

He also added a new dimension to his game with some help from first base coach Antoan Richardson, swiping a new career-best 38 bases, falling just two shy of the first 40-40 season in franchise history.  

This is Soto's third time being named an MVP finalist and his sixth top-10 finish across eight big-league seasons.  

The winner will be named at the MLB Awards ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 13 in Las Vegas.

Your 2025 @officialBBWAA NL Most Valuable Player Award finalists:

Shohei Ohtani
Kyle Schwarber
Juan Soto pic.twitter.com/G9vCuVIhlK

— MLB (@MLB) November 4, 2025

Aaron Judge had yet another historical year during the 2025 MLB season and, as expected, he's now being recognized for it.

The Yankees slugger was named one of three finalists for the American League MVP on Monday night, joining the Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh and Cleveland Guardians' José Ramírez.

Judge, who's looking to take home his second straight AL MVP and the third of his career, hit 53 home runs and led the league in batting average (.331) for the first time in his career.

He helped the Yanks win 94 games and make the postseason for the second straight season, finishing second in the AL East to the eventual pennant winning Toronto Blue Jays.

Some of his other jaw-dropping stats from the 2025 season include:

• 9.7 WAR (league leader) / 10.1 fWAR (league leader)
• 137 runs scored (league leader)
• 124 walks (league leader)
• .457 OBP (league leader)
• .688 SLG (league leader)
• 1.144 OPS (league leader)
• 215 OPS+ (league leader)

Simply put, Judge was the best baseball player in the American League this season.

Raleigh is Judge's toughest competition for the award and will likely garner some first-place votes after smashing a switch-hitting and catcher record 60 home runs. He led the Mariners to an AL West title for the first time since 2001 and finished the year with a league-leading 125 RBI while hitting .247.

Ramírez, who is quietly putting together a HOF-worthy career, hit .283 with 30 homers and 34 doubles with 85 RBI, helping the Guardians win their second straight AL Central title and third in four years.

The winner will be named at the MLB Awards ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 13 in Las Vegas.

Your 2025 @officialBBWAA AL Most Valuable Player Award finalists:

Aaron Judge
Cal Raleigh
José Ramírez pic.twitter.com/UyWkwFktH5

— MLB (@MLB) November 3, 2025

Vincent Trocheck has taken a big step towards his potential return from an upper-body injury suffered just two games into the regular season. 

The scrappy top line center was finally able to get back out there when the Rangers hit the ice for Monday's practice, skating with the team for the first time in a non-contact jersey. 

Trocheck hasn’t been activated from LTIR yet, but he is eligible whenever deemed ready. 

His presence is encouraging but doesn’t come as much of a surprise, as he was said to have made significant progress while the Rangers were out of town on their Western swing. 

It remains to be seen when exactly Trocheck will be able to work his way back into the starting lineup, but Monday was certainly a significant step towards that goal.

Getting him back out there will be a huge boost for the Rangers, who have rattled off three consecutive wins. 

“Just his presence around the group means the world,” Mike Sullivan said. “Just his leadership and his energy. The fact that he joined the group today is gonna suggest that he’s getting closer, so it’s great that he’s back out there.”

Dodgers fans filled the streets of downtown Los Angeles early Monday morning, to celebrate the Dodgers becoming baseball’s first back-to-back World Series champion in 25 years.

The celebratory parade is commenced at 11 a.m., with the Dodgers traveling on top of double-decker buses through downtown with a final stop at Dodger Stadium.

The 2025 Dodgers team has been a bright spot for many Angelenos during an otherwise tumultuous year for the region, after historic firestorms devastated thousands of homes in January and then widespread immigration sweeps over the summer by the Trump administration.

Manager Dave Roberts holds the Commissioner's Trophy during the Dodgers World Championship Parade and Celebration Monday.

Fans fill the streets of downtown Los Angeles following the Dodgers World Championship Parade and Celebration.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani during the Dodgers World Championship Parade and Celebration.

Ramon Ontivros, left, and Michelle Ruiz, both from Redlands, join fans lining the streets of downtown Los Angeles.

Fans fill the streets of downtown Los Angeles following the Dodgers World Championship Parade and Celebration.

From left, Mike Soto, Luis Espino, and Francisco Espino, join fans lining the streets of downtown Los Angeles.

Mia Nava, 9, waves a flag. "She's skipping school today and her teachers know her passion." Said her mom, Jennie Nava.

Alex Portugal holds onto a championship belt at Dodger Stadium. Claudia Villar Lee, poses with a model of the World Series trophy around her neck.

Young fans line the streets of downtown Los Angeles for the Dodgers World Championship Parade and Celebration.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

It was hard not to be distracted.

While the Toronto Maple Leafs were battling the Philadelphia Flyers in a 5-2 victory on Saturday, players were scrambling to catch the remaining moments of the Toronto Blue Jays game as they attempted to win their first World Series in 32 years.

The Blue Jays carried a lead going into the ninth until a Miguel Rojas solo home run tied the game and forced extra innings. The Jays had two painful opportunities to win it: first, the Isiah Kiner-Falefa run to home plate that missed the force out by mere millimetres. And then, the dramatic fly out with runners in scoring position, where Los Angeles' Andy Pages collided with Kiké Hernandez to save the championship with a metaphorically appropriate body check.

The Leafs saw most of this heartbreak as they were taxiing on the runway in Philadelphia before flying home. Their window to leave was delayed a bit as they awaited defenseman Chris Tanev, who left the game on a stretcher and ended up staying overnight for further tests before flying home. Before that, they were watching and reacting in the locker room before changing and doing post-game interviews.

“It was heartbreaking, but I think as a fan, and certainly I can speak for a lot of people around the city, the fan base is extremely proud of the type of team,” John Tavares said of the Jays. “I think that's the big emphasis, is what a team that was, and the contributions from everybody, and how they all relied on each other. I think you certainly saw how close they were and how they laid it all out there.”

“They left everything out there. Obviously, we're extremely close, which is probably why it stings and hurts so much because of how close they were, how well they played, and just how they laid it all on the line. But just a great team overall.”

‘It’s Deserving’: How The Blue Jays’ Playoff Success Has Shifted Toronto’s Focus Away From The Maple Leafs' October StruggleThe Maple Leafs' slow start has largely gone under the radar thanks to the Toronto Blue Jays capturing the hearts of Canadian sports fans.

The 2025 Blue Jays captured the spirit of being a completely likeable team, something the Leafs are certainly aspiring to achieve.

“I don’t know them but even I felt like I was part of that loss,” Steven Lorentz told The Hockey News.

Lorentz, along with William Nylander, did not play on Saturday due to injury. Both players kept one eye on their team from the press box at Xfinity Mobile Arena and the other on a screen showing the Jays game, which began about an hour after puck drop.

“They did an unbelievable job. I thought they won like two, three times that day so it was crazy,” Nylander said. “But they did an unbelievable job, just battling and competing. It sucks to lose in Game 7, but I think they did a tremendous job.”

NHL Moves Three Maple Leafs Games To Allow Blue Jays Fans To Watch World Series With Less ConflictsThe Maple Leafs continue to move start times as the red-hot Toronto Blue Jays compete in the World Series.

Now that the Jays are no longer in the Toronto sports spotlight, the Maple Leafs must look for lessons from their World Series run. As coach Craig Berube, who coached the St. Louis Blues to a Stanley Cup title in 2019, knows, winning starts with culture.

“It’s camaraderie, good teammates. I think it’s just guys who look forward to coming to the locker room, being around the rink, and being around each other. We have that,” Berube said. “I mean, these guys really like each other, and so the locker room is fine.”

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'Hopefully That Can Trigger Something': Why Easton Cowan Is Getting A Look On Maple Leafs' Top Power Play Unit

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Fernando Valenzuela, the Dodgers' left-hander who sparked Fernandomania in 1981, is among the eight names that will be considered by the National Baseball Hall of Fame's Contemporary Baseball Era Committee for induction into next year's class.

The 16-person committee meets every three years and considers players whose primary contributions to the game came since 1980. Any candidate who receives 75% of the votes on ballots cast by the committee will be elected into the Hall of Fame and will be inducted in Cooperstown on July 26, 2026 — along with any inductees elected from the Baseball Writers Assn. of America ballot, which will be announced Jan. 20, 2026.

The other seven players who will be considered by the committee include Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Carlos Delgado, Jeff Kent, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy and Gary Sheffield.

Read more:World Series-winning Dodgers vow to keep dynasty going in 2026

The 16 members who will review the committee's ballot will be appointed by the National Baseball Hall of Fame's board and be announced later this fall.

Valenzuela, who had his number retired by the Dodgers in 2023 before he died at age 63 in October 2024 on the eve of the Dodgers-Yankees World Series, won 173 games over 17 seasons — 11 of those with the Dodgers — and was a six-time All-Star. He remains the only pitcher to win the rookie of the year and Cy Young awards in the same season in MLB history, but his lasting influence has been the seismic shift in the demographics of the fan base after he burst on the scene during a 1981 season that culminated with a World Series championship.

Despite his impressive run early in his career, Valenzuela did not garner enough support when he was initially eligible for enshrinement to the National Baseball Hall of Fame (75% of the vote from members of the Baseball Writers Assn. of America is needed). In his first year on the ballot in 2003, he netted 6.2% of the vote, surpassing the 5% threshold needed to stay on the ballot for another year. The number dropped to 3.8% in 2004 and he fell off the ballot in subsequent years.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame has three different Era electorates: The Classic Baseball Era Committee, which covers the period before 1980 and includes the Negro Leagues, while the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee has two ballots — one for players and one for managers, executives and umpires whose greatest contributions came since 1980.

The committee for contemporary managers, executives and umpires will deliberate in 2026, with the committee for the classic era scheduled to meet in 2027 before the committee for contemporary players meets again in 2028.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

As expected, Yankees outfielder/first basemanCody Bellinger has opted out of the final year of his contract and become a free agent.

Bellinger, who will be entering his age-30 season, had a $25 million player option for 2026.

Acquired by the Yankees from the Cubs last December, Bellinger slashed .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs, 25 doubles, five triples, 98 RBI, and 89 runs scored in 656 plate appearances over 152 games in 2025 for New York.

He played all three outfield positions, getting the most time in left field, and also made a handful of appearances at first base.

In addition to Bellinger, the Yankees' other high profile free agents are Trent Grisham, Devin Williams, Paul Goldschmidt, and Luke Weaver.