The Los Angeles Dodgers are once again on top of the baseball world, having captured their second consecutive World Series championship with a dramatic 5-4 Game 7 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in extra innings. Will Smith delivered the decisive blow, belting an 11th-inning home run that sealed the Dodgers’ ninth franchise title and made them the first repeat champs since the Yankees dynasty over two decades ago. Shohei Ohtani was a headline force throughout the series—he struck out the side in the top of the first inning, then immediately set Dodger Stadium alight with a leadoff home run. Ohtani capped a remarkable postseason by reaching base a record nine times in Game 6 and continued to break ground with slugging and speed, reinforcing his place as one of the modern game’s true superstars.

Max Scherzer, pitching for Toronto, was applauded as he left in the fifth with a narrow lead, but the Dodgers relentlessly chipped away. Yoshinobu Yamamoto closed out the clincher for the Dodgers, inducing a title-winning double play as Los Angeles earned a back-to-back crown in a tense, back-and-forth contest.

With the World Series decided, the MLB offseason has officially begun. The exclusive negotiating window for teams to re-sign their own free agents has closed, so as of today, all eligible free agents can negotiate and sign with any club. The market is wide open, and speculation is swirling about where stars like Bo Bichette and Juan Soto might land. Notable roster news impacting next year, especially for the San Diego Padres, is the announcement that Yu Darvish will miss the entire 2026 season, forcing the team’s front office to retool their strategy heading into free agency.

Front offices are also busy making decisions on options and qualifying offers, with teams like the Braves exercising Chris Sale’s club option for 2026 and the Royals locking up veteran Salvador Perez with a two-year extension. Over the coming days, all eyes will be on the annual Silver Slugger awards with Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Schwarber, Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Cal Raleigh, and Aaron Judge among the finalists. These will be followed by MVP, Cy Young, and other major accolades during awards week.

Looking ahead, the focus will rapidly shift to player movement, as teams position themselves for another title run. The qualifying offer deadline, acceptance windows, and arbitration cases will set the tone for the always hectic Hot Stove season. In minor league and international news, roster moves and contract negotiations are already under way as clubs look to bolster their depth and snag top available talent.

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