Exclusive: David Ortiz Backs Dodgers’ Depth but Tips Tigers to Win 2025 World Series

David Ortiz isn't sugarcoating it, the Los Angeles Dodgers are good. 

Entering the Fourth of July, the Dodgers are 56-32 and have the MLB's best record. That's despite injuries to key starters such as starting pitcher Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki and now two-time All-Star Max Muncy.

Despite the fact that the Dodgers haven't fielded their best roster this season, the defending World Series champs still look like the team to beat entering the second half of the season.

"Nothing," Ortiz says in a one-on-one interview on behalf of his rum release when asked if they need to do anything at the trade deadline. 

"They have two teams, and their B team can beat a lot of A squads. They have a lot of guys injured and they're still whooping ass. They're whooping everybody. Think about when these guys start coming back, The Dodgers are good," he told SportsBoom.com. 

Why The Dodgers Are The Overwhelming Favourites

The World Series runner-ups, the New York Yankees, lost their series to the Dodgers. In fact, they lost one of their games to the Dodgers, 18-2. Ortiz, who works as a FOX broadcaster, covered that game and detailed how they were "whooping" their top competition.

"That is supposed to be the competition and you're whooping them and they still have like 14 guys on the DL," says the Dodgers of beating the Yankees. 

"Think about when this team has everybody or half of those guys."

Even though the Dodgers are the overwhelming favorites, the Baseball Hall of Famer does warn that it is a long season, so you never know what's going to happen.  

While the Yankees haven't been as impressive as the Dodgers, they're still in the thick of the playoff race. They're currently 48-39 after leading the AL East through the early portion of the 2025 season, currently a game behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the division lead. New York was just swept in a four-game series with Toronto.

The Yankees have dealt with a number of injuries themselves, especially to their starting rotation where Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil have been sidelined this season. Gil is anticipated to return in late July or early August.

"Of course," says Ortiz when asked if the Yankees should be aggressive at the trade deadline. 

"I thought that the Yankees were going to be in better shape right now, but injuries are a team's worst enemy. The Yankees they always stay aggressive, trying to pick up the pieces that they need."

Ortiz says this is the time for everybody, including teams like the Dodgers, to make a move before the trade deadline at the end of the month.

"It's going to be interesting to see what everybody does during this trade deadline, because it seems like everybody needs something," says Ortiz. 

"Even the Dodgers, it seems like they need something because they have a lot of guys injured. This is the time where people like to take advantage of what they need and go for, especially if you have money."

While the 49-year-old believes the Yankees should be aggressive at the trade deadline, he's not sure if they will be due to their current payroll commitments. New York has the third-largest payroll at just under $289 million.

Detroit Tigers To Win 2025 World Series

Another interesting team in the American League is none other than the Detroit Tigers, who currently have the best record (54-34) in the American League. That is in large part due to the play of reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, who could be on the verge of winning his second consecutive Cy Young award. Skubal has a 10-2 record with a 2.15 ERA.

Ortiz calls Skubal the best pitcher in baseball right now and if he had to predict the World Series right now, he's going with Tigers over the Dodgers. 

"I think those two teams are going to be in the World Series," says Ortiz. 

"The Dodgers look like they can overcome, but if they have to face that Skubal guy in the World Series, I'm going with the Tigers."