Spring training is in its early days but it’s already clear that the defending World Series champions are primed for a potential repeat.
Los Angeles had a busy offseason of celebrations after defeating the New York Yankees in five games.
They also signed a number of players to new contracts – especially left-handed starter Blake Snell and Japanese pitching ace Roki Sasaki.
It means that the Dodgers’ payroll is by far the highest in Major League Baseball – with an estimated $392million being handed out to players, a new MLB record. That number includes guaranteed salary, retained salary, minor-league contracts, and player benefits among other line items.
While the competitive balance of the league may feel off, the reality is that this is all within the bounds of MLB rules – even if the team is deferring its largest contract, that of star Shohei Ohtani.
ESPN baseball insider Jeff Passan addressed the reality of the situation on SportsCenter on Wednesday.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will have the highest payroll in Major League Baseball next year
That’s partially thanks to Shohei Ohtani accepting a deferred deal allowing the Dodgers to bulk
They’ve added top talents this offseason – like pitchers Blake Snell (L) and Roki Sasaki (R_
‘What the Dodgers are doing is within the constraints of the collective bargaining agreement,’ Passan said.
‘That’s why nobody can really complain beyond just the fact that the Dodgers are owned by the Guggenheim Company, which has billions and billions and billions of dollars – more money than owners of some other teams.
‘They are taking advantage of that. It’s not just the deferred money, it’s they money they are putting into signing bonuses. It’s the fact that they can pay guys more than other teams are willing to.
‘This is a fundamental issue with Major League Baseball that goes back decades. The problem is, No. 1: We don’t know that a salary cap will solve this. There are other capped leagues in sports and those capped leagues, some of them don’t have the parity that Major League Baseball does.
‘But it’s really the feeling of not being able to compete that is harming these teams and harming fan bases more than anything. And it’s something that over the next couple of years, as the collective bargaining agreement expires after the 2026 season, we’re gonna have to keep an eye on because the future of baseball is going to depend on how they figure this out.’
The Dodgers loaded enough money and incentives into the contract of superstar Shohei Ohtani, that they were able to defer a lot of the money that he was owed to later seasons. That move freed up money which allowed them to bulk up their roster currently to help them compete better.
Now, the Dodgers have the most dominant roster in the sport and will look to repeat their glory from the year prior.
The team plays its first spring training game out in Arizona this afternoon against the Chicago Cubs.