When the Padres went starting pitcher wild in the offseason, layering Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove and Blake Snell onto an already deep, talented roster, San Diego felt like it might just overtake the Dodgers in the NL West.

But Los Angeles responded by retaining Justin Turner, signing NL Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer and sending its payroll beyond $260 million.

Dodgers or Padres, Padres or Dodgers.

But when the Giants completed winning two of three over the Dodgers on Thursday, it was upstart San Francisco that led the NL West by three games.

The Dodgers responded with yet another move that accumulated stars and — against better judgment — provided the sense they were a sure thing: They fortified to try for a ninth straight NL West title and to become the first team since the 1998-2000 three-peat Yankees to repeat.

So the Dodgers could mortgage Ruiz, who was generally viewed as their top prospect.

One, Jeter Downs, was a key piece used last year to acquire Mookie Betts, who was central to the Dodgers winning their first World Series since 1988.

But the Dodgers are not only trying to win consecutive World Series for the first time in franchise history, they are trying to turn the subject away from Bauer, the folly of signing him despite concerns about his makeup and the fallout now associated with his sexual assault case that might possibly lead to him never playing for the Dodgers (or in the majors) again.

But Seager is a free agent after this season, so the Dodgers already have his replacement — Turner is a free agent after 2022?

But the Dodgers just made themselves a lot tougher to beat

Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify