But we’re here to tell you that it can be according to history nuts … which are the best kind of nuts.
First, let’s write one version of the Dodgers’ hypothetical system, with an OPS+ for each player of 2025 (100 is the league average, and each point above or below that is one percentage point above or below the league average):
Eight of the nine regular players were above the league average last year. If they were to each repeat this feat in 2026, it wouldn’t be unprecedented lineup depth in AL/NL history. During the Live Ball Era (dating back to 1920), there have been 22 teams with eight hitters with at least 400 plate appearances and an above-average OPS+ mark, according to Baseball-Reference’s Stathead Database. And the latest of those teams was … Kyle Tucker’s Cubs, last year (Tucker, Michael Busch, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner, Carson Kelly, Seiya Suzuki and Dansby Swanson).
So that’s good…but not nuts.
What’s nuts is what (probably) happens inside the meat of this list. You have Ohtani, Freeman, Tucker and Smith all coming off seasons where they logged over 400 plate appearances with an OPS+ that was at least 40% better than league average.
How many Live Ball Era AL/NL teams have had four such players at one time?
1953 Brooklyn Dodgers: Duke Snider (165), Roy Campanella (154), Carl Furillo (147), Gil Hodges (140)
1976 Reds: Joe Morgan (187), George Foster (150), Pete Rose (141), Ken Griffey (140)
2003 Red Sox: Manny Ramirez (160), Trot Nixon (149), David Ortiz (144), Bill Mueller (140)
2017 Astros: Jose Altuve (160), Carlos Correa (155), Marwin González (146), George Springer (141)
Yes, now we turn to nuts. Three of those teams reached the World Series, with the 2003 Red Sox falling by one win. And two of them (1976 Reds and 2017 Astros) won it all.
When we lower our OPS+ threshold to 135 and our plate appearance threshold to 375 to get Muncy (388 plate appearances in 2025) into the picture, then only one Live Ball Era AL/NL team has had five such players in a season — the aforementioned 1953 Dodgers, who had 3 Jackie boys and 1 Robinson.
So if — and that’s the only “if” we have right now — these players can repeat their offensive performances in 2025, then these Dodgers will be in special historical company.
But there are other ways in which this big green machine can make history.
Whether Betts’ most offensive season (.258/.326/.406 slash) turns out to be a statistical blip or the start of a decline will be one of the most interesting clips of the Dodgers’ season. Remember, though, that Mookie had a 143 OPS+ in 2024 and has 135 marks in his career. So a return to his statistical status could increase the chances of the Dodgers matching or making history.
There’s also Hernández, who had 135 points in 2024 before regressing last year. Teo’s mood is fluid. He has been the subject of trade rumors this offseason, perhaps even more so now that Tucker is in the bullpen. But if Hernández stays, he, too, is a fallback candidate who could add to the allure of LA’s history.
Another interesting aspect of Tucker’s arrival is that he, like Freeman, Ohtani and Muncy, is a left-handed hitter. Also, all four came in north of the plate from .375 with an OPS+ mark at least 35% better than the league average last season. If they do it again, the Dodgers will become the first Live Ball Era AL/NL team with four such hitters. The only Deadball Era team with four was the 1908 Tigers with Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford, Matty McIntyre and Claude Rossman.
Obviously, the 2026 Dodgers haven’t played a game yet, and there’s a risk in assuming that a player’s performance one year will be repeated the next — mostly by four or five players.
But we’re talking about superstar players (and future backs) with real track records, and the depth and size of this Dodgers roster gives them all the opportunity to reach their full potential.
A final way to look at this: The Dodgers have five players (Ohtani, Tucker, Freeman, Betts and Smith) out of 50 players projected by Steamer (available from FanGraphs) to post a weighted runs scored and (synonymous with OPS+) mark that is at least 20% better than the league average.
No other team has more than three.
In other words, this can get nuts. Historically nuts.
