The Los Angeles Dodgers are entering the 2013 MLB season with the biggest payroll in the history of pro sports at over $200M. Crossing sports this situation can be compared to what the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia Eagles have gone through in recent years. The expectations are going to be higher than they have been in decades for the Dodgers but, I still think they can prevail as National League West champions in 2013.

With the San Francisco Giants bringing the World Series trophy back to the Bay this Fall many forgot who was in control of the NL West for half of 2012. Behind Clayton Kershaw and Matt Kemp the Dodgers looked playoff bound until the hit a wall in the second-half where the Giants just played better baseball when it mattered. Kershaw will remain the teams ace but, the $147M investment in Zach Greinke must pay dividends if they want to dethrone the Giants in the coming seasons.

Speaking of spending money the Dodgers also sured up their staff by signing South Korean pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu to a $6oM contract this offseason. Ryu has garnered plenty of attention this Spring Training and is looking to make a big impact in his rookie campaign.

In my mind this is a team that has all of the pieces to make a run and with great play from Hanley Ramirez they will be sitting pretty with one of the most well-rounded teams in all of baseball. Ramirez will man third for Los Angeles this year and if he can recapture some of the magic he had with the Florida Marlins when we won the batting title in 2009 and stole 32 bases in 2010.

All in all I think the Dodgers will win 91 games and solidify the NL West crown once again.