Scherzer, Trea Turner Traded to Dodgers; World Series Odds Shorten to +320

• The Los Angeles Dodgers added three-time Cy Young Award-winner Max Scherzer and All-Star shortstop Trea Turner in a trade with the Washington Nationals on Thursday
• Between Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw, LA can now count six Cy Young Awards among the top three pitchers in the club’s starting rotation
• The World Series odds on the defending champion Dodgers shortened from +380 to +320

The best team in baseball got significantly better on Thursday. The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired three-time Cy Young Award-winning right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer and All-Star shortstop Trea Turner from the Washington Nationals.

Now, naysayers can argue that the Los Angeles Dodgers aren’t the best team in baseball at the moment. The 62-42 Dodgers are, after all, second in the National League West, three games behind the division-leading San Francisco Giants.

Then again, anyone who doesn’t think the Dodgers possess the best lineup in baseball, well, they really haven’t been paying attention.

LA was already the favorite in the World Series odds prior to the deal at +380. That betting line has since shortened to +320.

2021 World Series Odds

Odds as of July 30 at DraftKings

Addition by Subtraction

This wasn’t merely a case of the rich getting richer. By adding Scherzer and Turner, the Dodgers also prevented challengers to their throne from closing the gap.

Both the Giants and San Diego Padres, LA’s closest rivals for both division and league supremacy, failed to get their hands on these two stars. Earlier Thursday, the news was that the Padres and Nationals were nearing completion of a deal that would send Scherzer to San Diego.

First look at Max Scherzer in Dodger blue 😤 pic.twitter.com/KP2lVJlzM2

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 30, 2021

Instead, the Dodgers went to the max to add another ace to their already deep pitching staff. Scherzer’s contract includes a no-movement clause. Did he veto a move to the Padres and choose the Dodgers?

Loaded for Another Title Run

If the Dodgers are beginning to resemble an all-star team, there’s a good reason for that. Your fantasy baseball team isn’t this deep in talent. The Dodgers now have a payroll of $275 million.

They are able to populate their entire infield with 2021 all-stars – first baseman Max Muncy, second baseman Chris Taylor, third baseman Justin Turner and shortstop Turner. That doesn’t even take into account shortstop Corey Seager. The 2020 NLCS and World Series MVP is currently out with a fractured hand. It’s likely that one of Seager or Turner will slide over to second and Taylor will return to his super sub utility role.

Dodgers roster now includes 6 total MVP awards (Pujols 3, Betts, Bellinger, Kershaw 1 apiece) and 7 Cy Youngs (Kershaw, Scherzer 3 apiece, Price 1), 8 if one counts Bauer.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 30, 2021

The outfield of left fielder AJ Pollock, Cody Bellinger in center and Mookie Betts in right combine for eight All-Star selections and two MVP awards. The pitching staff counts eight Cy Young Awards. Playoff opponents will be dealing with a top of the rotation that will feature Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler.

In Scherzer and southpaw Kershaw, the Dodgers now suit up the best right-handed and left-handed starting pitcher of this generation.

No team has won consecutive World Series since the New York Yankees won three in a row from 1998-2000. The Dodgers are loading up to take a run at ending that drought.