SAN ANTONIO – With baseball’s leading executives gathering in San Antonio for the annual general manager meetings, one question looms large:

How can we possibly defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers?

The reigning World Series champions have set the standard in Major League Baseball, making the playoffs for 12 consecutive seasons, clinching 11 division titles, winning four pennants since 2017, and capturing two World Series titles in five years.

The concerning aspect?

They could be even more formidable in 2025, as they triumphed in the World Series with just three healthy starters in October, and next year they will welcome back key players like Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May, and Tony Gonsolin.

Best of luck to any team in the National League West, a division so intensely competitive that the Dodgers privately speculate whether the American League’s New York Yankees could finish better than fourth in the NL West.

The GM meetings serve as a starting point for dreamers, allowing teams to begin strategizing about roster changes involving trades and free agency, and opening lines of communication with agent Scott Boras, who manages many high-profile free agents.

If you’ve got $700 million to spend, you can try to secure outfielder Juan Soto, who is seeking the best offer; teams were allowed to start bidding at 5 p.m. ET on Monday. For those looking to spend less, third baseman Alex Bregman, first basemen Pete Alonso and Christian Walker, along with outfielders Anthony Santander and Teoscar Hernandez, are also up for grabs.

If you’re in need of starting pitching, options like Corbin Burnes, Max Fried, and Blake Snell are available.

For teams looking to make trades, star third baseman Nolan Arenado and starter Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals are on the table, along with Chicago White Sox ace Garret Crochet, All-Star closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers, and possibly Logan Gilbert or one of Seattle Mariners’ talented young pitchers.

No team will resolve all their difficulties during the GM meetings; in fact, very few issues will be resolved for at least a few weeks, and sometimes not even until deep into spring training, as we found out last offseason.

Here are 10 intriguing teams to monitor as discussions begin:

New York Mets

The Mets boast the wealthiest owner in baseball, Steve Cohen, whose net worth is $21 billion, but this does not guarantee a spending spree in free agency. They’ve already tried that approach, and it didn’t go well. Now, the responsibility lies with David Stearns, the president of baseball operations, who has shown a preference for strategic, rather than reckless, spending.

Cohen could have hired someone just to handle finances, but he chose Stearns to develop a team that mimics the Dodgers—one that consistently performs well and has more depth than any other MLB organization. This explains why they encouraged Alonso to explore offers exceeding the $150 million they estimated he was worth last summer. Some executives also suspect the Mets may be looking to drive up Soto’s price but aren’t serious contending buyers themselves.

New York Yankees: Their fundamental issues became glaringly obvious in the World Series; will they simply throw money at bringing back Soto and possibly signing Walker or Alonso? Or will they pursue more innovative strategies to avoid another public humiliation?

St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals are waving the white flag before the holiday season, indicating they are open for trades involving any player. Interested in Arenado? Perhaps Gray? How about All-Star catcher Willson Contreras or All-Star closer Ryan Helsley? The Cardinals are ready to engage in discussions as they initiate a rebuild.

San Diego Padres

No team will experience more restless nights this offseason than the Padres. They were so close to dethroning the Dodgers in the NL Division Series. If they had succeeded, they might have even claimed their first World Series title.

“I really believed San Diego was crucial to our success,” stated Magic Johnson, a minority owner of the Dodgers. “They pushed us to elevate our game. I felt that once we overcame them, we maintained that level. They challenged us… After we defeated San Diego, I thought we were the best team left.”

The Padres are in need of pitching, especially with veteran starter Joe Musgrove likely out for the entire 2025 season. General manager A.J. Preller is known for his bold moves and isn’t afraid to trade top prospects to strengthen the team.

Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies are frustrated at not having secured a championship during the Bryce Harper era. After coming close in recent seasons, they are prepared to make a significant move to alter their fortunes. Dave Dombrowski, the president of baseball operations, has not discussed pursuing Soto internally but understands they need a lineup transformation. Scouts have noted that their lineup is often predictable and easy to pitch to during crucial moments, with many powerful players and few who excel at making contact. If a team is in need of a slugger like Nick Castellanos, or outfield assistance in Brandon Marsh, or a third baseman like Alec Bohm, the Phillies are open for business.

It’s essential to pay attention.

Don’t be misled; the Phillies are not shy about spending, even if it pushes them past the $281 million luxury tax threshold.

According to Phillies owner John Middleton, “For the right player,” he told reporters, “I’m confident that Dave and I would exceed the third limit.”

Toronto Blue Jays

They still have that $700 million they saved when Ohtani chose not to join them last winter. So why not extend the same offer to Soto? The Blue Jays realize that they must make an impactful move as their chances for the postseason are rapidly diminishing, especially since first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and shortstop Bo Bichette will be free agents after the 2025 season.

Seattle Mariners

The Mariners might have been the most formidable team that missed out on the playoffs. Their pitching staff is unmatched, making them a challenging opponent for anyone. They haven’t reached the postseason in 22 of the last 23 years. If this trend continues for another season, it could lead to significant changes within the organization. Anything short of a playoff appearance would be a disaster.

San Francisco Giants:

Buster Posey has made a promise to Giants fans: “Make the Giants Great Again.”

Frustrated with analytics, platoons, and bullpen tactics, the Giants are returning to traditional methods, placing a new emphasis on scouting. This change is evident as Posey steps in for Farhan Zaidi as the new leadership. Meanwhile, Zack Minasian takes on the role of general manager, replacing the previous Ivy League influence. The Giants will be interesting to observe as they begin to make strategic decisions.

Cincinnati Reds

Bringing Terry Francona out of retirement and offering him a lucrative contract signals a serious intent to win the NL Central and reach heights not seen by the Reds since 1990. With a wealth of exceptional young talent, the Reds are close to playoff contention. They should not settle for mediocrity, given their top-notch talent in the division. With plans to invest in key players and trades, the team is not aiming for anything less than success. Francona clearly believes in their ambitions, or he would not have accepted the position.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers, who cycled through 40 pitchers last season, are aware they don’t need to make substantial adjustments to their formidable lineup, aside from some minor tweaks. They have several pitching stars ready to return from injuries, more than any other rotation in baseball. Now it’s just a matter of how ambitious they want to be. While they are expected to have a conversation with Boras about Soto, they are not seen as serious contenders in that bidding. Instead, they aim to keep outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, provided his demands don’t become outrageous. The Dodgers also have strong interest in free-agent shortstop Willy Adames, believing his character would mesh well with the team’s dynamic.

Throughout the winter, the Dodgers will be quietly watching the market, keeping their plans under wraps, leaving other teams guessing about their next move. When they decide to act, it will be clear that any path to the World Series still goes through them.

As Dodgers manager Dave Roberts put it: “Let’s gear up for another run next year.”

This story has been updated with new information.