Podcast episode 2037: Padres try to close the gap in the National League West

The Padres were already going to be the Dodgers’ greatest challenger in the National League West in 2021, but this week they got even better, acquiring frontline starting pitchers Blake Snell and Yu Darvish by trade, and signing Korean infielder Ha-seong Kim.

While it’s coincidental that both Snell and Darvish evoke World Series memories for the Dodgers, on both ends of the spectrum, we look at what this means going forward for the division, and whether the urge for the Dodgers to “respond” to these moves is warranted, or just a function of the mostly dormant MLB offseason timetable.

Also, the Dodgers added two relievers of their own this week — Tommy Kahnle and Garrett Cleavinger — though there is a nonzero chance that neither one pitches in the majors for the Dodgers in 2021.

Though released in 2021, this was recorded in 2020, so technically it’s our last episode of the year. Thanks everybody for listening.

Please send all of your questions to tblapodcast@gmail.com, or tweet us at @ericstephen or @jacobburch. Happy new year as well to producer Brian Salvatore.

Dodgers rewind

No player or coach this week for the rewind. Instead, we recognize longtime Dodgers beat writer extraordinaire Ken Gurnick, who retired this week.

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