MLB Analyst Thinks Padres Have Closed the Gap on Dodgers

Division rivals have everybody comparing them ahead of this season.

Last year's playoffs certainly ended in a disappointing manner for the Los Angeles Dodgers as they fell in four games to the San Diego Padres. Both franchises have been doing everything they can to come out even stronger, and make it to the promised land once again.

However, the Friars have gone all in and put their money where their mouths are this offseason. They have committed to massive contracts with some of their most talented players in Xander Bogaerts and Manny Machado, and will be welcoming back a franchise cornerstone in Fernando Tatis Jr.

Matt Vasgersian and Harold Reynolds discussed the state of both squads on a segment on MLB Network, and added fuel to the fire following the Padres' big acquisitions.

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"This rivalry has been a good one the past couple of years and it's gotten even spicier now with the Padres spending the type of money that they've spent," said Vasgersian. "We all think that they've tightened up the gap because there's been some departures in Los Angeles, Bellinger, Turner, etc. We're not sure what the Dodgers pitching staff is going to look like."

San Diego has definitely seen the opportunity for a championship window and decided to go all in. After coming within three wins of a World Series appearance last season, they wanted to fill in any holes on their roster and compete against the best.

When it comes to big names, the Dodgers did lose some as discussed by Vasgersian and Reynolds. But Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Max Muncy are the more experienced and talented individuals still rocking the shiny, blue uniforms. And on the other side, the Friars will still need to mesh all of these elite players together and build chemistry before it is decided that the gap between the two teams is closed.