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Brandon League calls Dodgers 'team to beat' in 2013

Brandon League decided to stay with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team he was traded to in July. A solid core should help make his team the favorites to win the National League West in 2013, he says.

By Rodger Sherman
Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

Brandon League thinks the Los Angeles Dodgers are the squad teams will be gunning for in the 2013 season -- not the team up the coast that just brought home hardware.

It hasn't been a fun postseason for Dodgers fans, who had to watch their team fall just short of the playoffs while the rival San Francisco Giants won the World Series. But League, who just signed a three-year, $22.5 million contract with the Dodgers, thinks next year the Dodgers will be the team to worry about in the NL West. He spoke unapologetically about his beliefs for the 2013 Dodgers in a conference call announcing the signing:

"I think in 2013 the L.A. Dodgers are going to be the team everyone wants to beat, tries to beat. ... We're going to have a target on our back next year and we welcome it."

League pitched in 28 games this past season in relief for the Dodgers after being traded from the Seattle Mariners on July 30. He earned six saves in a stint as the team's closer when Kelsey Jansen was out with a heart problem. He had a 2.30 ERA with the team, a number which fell to a ridiculous 0.55 ERA after Sept. 1. He said that the Dodgers were his No.1 choice in free agency.