The pieces are good enough to get them to the playoffs if they bring everyone back (Breggie, Refsnyder, Matz). What are the next steps? They need a big RHB for 1B. They need better MIF defense (Mayer to SS, Story to 2B). Deal Abreu/Duran for a #2. Continued progression of Tolle and Early. Even with all of that, they still are behind the Dodgers. They don't have the generational talent the Dodgers have unless some of these guys take MASSIVE leaps next year. We know JH isn't going to shell out money to even compete with the likes of Toronto.
The only other way to beat the Dodgers is to hope for poor injury luck out in LA. Sit here and root for Ohtani to blow out his elbow again? What fun is that? I'd rather Ohtani win 10 straight MVP's and then tell my grandkids what it was like watching the greatest player of all time.