Every time the Dodgers sign a Free Agent or extend Tommy Edman, the non-Dodger fans continue to cry the Dodgers are ruining baseball. AND THEN when they deferred a lot of the salaries, the cries got louder. Because only the Dodgers sign free agents and defer salaries.
Yes the Dodgers are flaunting their wealth, but why shouldn’t they? They are not done. I do not know what it is going to take to sign Clayton Kershaw, but the Dodgers are not going to let $$$ stop them from re-signing Kersh. The Dodgers are going to tryouts for free agents, including Max Scherzer. The LAD scouts came away very impressed with Scherzer. Probably nothing, but with the Dodgers this year, who knows.
The Dodgers also scouted LHRP Tyler Matzek, who is throwing a new pitch with Trackman, a slider. The Dodgers pitching gurus are pretty expert at perfecting sliders. They can always use another LHRP, right?
What is with all of these Alex Bregman rumors? Of course that could generate a lot of angry comments from Dodger fans and non-Dodger fans alike.
The go-to solution to these fans is a salary cap. Apparently more owners are beginning to like the idea of a salary cap. I do not think we need to take a litmus test with MLBPA to see if they have softened their stance.
The idea of a salary cap is to bring parity to MLB. After all NFL and NBA both have salary caps.
- KC Chiefs are in their 3rd consecutive Super Bowl and 5 out of the last 6.
- KC and Philadelphia Eagles are meeting for their second Super Bowl in the last three years.
- Before KC domination, New England was in 9 Super Bowls (6 wins) since 2001.
- 20 of 32 NFL teams reached the Super Bowl since 2001 (62.5%).
- The NBA has a salary cap, and the Celtics are cruising to their 11th straight playoff appearance.
- 17 of 30 NBA teams reached the NBA Finals in the last 25 years (56.7%)
- The Lakers have reached the Finals in 8 of those years, Miami 7, and Golden State has reached the Finals 5 times.
- 21 out of 30 MLB teams have reached the WS (70%).
- No MLB team has won back to back WS since 1998-2000 (NYY). The same is not true with NFL or NBA.
- Winners – MLB Winners since 2000 (16); NFL winners since 2000 (13); and NBA winners since 2000 (11).
I am not sure that a salary cap has brought more parity to the NFL and NBA more so than MLB.
One of the premier analytical publications, Baseball Prospectus, conducted a recent study on the subject and came to the following conclusion:
The underlying premise is incorrect. Inequality among MLB teams isn’t high; it’s about normal over MLB history. And while the ability of teams to advance in the standings in the National League (and the corresponding deposing of perennial winners) is lower than average, it’s not at historical lows. And the opposite is true in the American League, where mobility in the standings is higher than average. A salary cap seeks to address a problem that doesn’t exist.
Another area of concern for many LAD haters is the signing bonus. Too many of these brain challenged haters refuse to believe that signing bonuses are in fact included in the AAV for CBT purposes. There are reasons why signing bonuses are included. Take Blake Snell. Snell resides in Lynnwood, Washington during the offseason. Washington State does not have a state income tax.
That is not the reason for all signing bonuses, but it is for many.
The Dodgers are also referred to as the LA Deferrals because of the number of deferred deals they have inked, especially the last two years. While the Dodgers are being castigated for their deferred contracts, the same acrimony is not leveled on Arizona for their deferred amount for Corbin Burnes. His deferred amount is a little convoluted, but the total deferral could be $64MM.
Toronto’s heavily deferred contract with Anthony Santander includes $61.75MM deferred money on a $92.5MM contract. The NPV of that contract is $68.6MM.
No matter how many times the mentally challenged have to be told, the NPV of the deferred amount has to be deposited into an escrow account on or before the second July 1 following the championship season in which the deferred compensation is earned. This is not open to question. It is a requirement per the CBA.
All teams can choose to defer a portion of the contract and take advantage of the “loophole”. They just choose not to. Maybe the owners are not competent to handle the investment.
But the one that sticks in the craw of the fans (and possibly other owners) is Shohei Ohtani. Every other team could have made the same deal, but most (if not all of those teams) did not have the ability to properly take advantage of the marketing opportunities that Ohtani availed to the Dodgers.
The Dodgers made $70MM on new sponsorships from Japanese partnership/sponsors alone. Not to mention the increase in ticket revenue, merchandise sold, food sales, parking…And for 2025, ITO EN, a green tea, has signed a local Club partnership agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Not only just LAD, but Ito En is now the Official Green Tea of MLB, and in the U.S., Ito En is an Official Partner of MLB. ITO EN will run various promotions in Japan and the US as part of the “Oi Ocha” x Ohtani x MLB 3-way relationship.
Do you think the other owners are not going to benefit from this new partnership?
Have the other owners taken advantage of Ohtani? Per:
Ohtani’s star power is having a major knock-on impact. With an estimated $15 million in earnings from billboard deals during Ohtani’s road games, teams hosting the Dodgers have seen a huge surge of Japanese sponsors wanting to get their name out there. Like a devoted entourage, it seems as though brands are actually following him around the nation. Japanese businesses swarm to sponsor and promote during Dodgers games, whether they are against the Yankees, Orioles, or any other team. Ohtani’s effect is evident.
Baseball has brought in around $300 million in new sponsorships in 2024 with new assets like jersey patches and helmet logos. It increased the league’s overall sponsorship revenue to $1.84 billion, a 16% rise from the previous year and a 36% gain over the previous three seasons. No league is expanding as quickly as MLB, even though the NFL currently leads the pack with an estimated $2.3 billion in sponsorship revenue. Ohtani’s impact has been a major contributor to this expansion, demonstrating that baseball is more than simply a game but also a rising worldwide corporate force.
Those owners are not going to say no to their increased revenue. Baseball is flourishing because of the Dodgers and their deferred deal with Ohtani. Of course the Dodgers are taking more advantage and adding more elite players. But they are not ruining baseball.
The worst of the fans are the Padre fans. They claim the Dodgers are ruining baseball because their ownership group is sitting idly by and doing nothing thus far. The ownership group of the Padres is a mess.
San Francisco Giants – I can understand why hitters may not want to sign a free agent contract with SFG. But pitchers? Why couldn’t Posey put a financial package together as good as (or better than) Arizona? Sometimes you have to pay a premium to get that free agent. Burnes’ contract was not outrageous, and SF can afford the $$$ better than Arizona. Maybe Arizona wants to win more than SF?
One of the newest owners, Baltimore’s David Rubenstein, is worth $4.1BB, and one of his co-owners, Michael Aroughetti is worth $2.5BB. They certainly have the wherewithal to sign free agents like Corbin Burnes. They chose not to. That is not the Dodgers fault. Baltimore’s window will close quickly unless they can win a pennant and prove they can win. So when Rubenstein complains about the LAD free spending, those complaints fall on my deaf ears. The Dodgers have proved they can win, and now free agents want to play for them, even with deferrals.
One other point I like to make when fans like to say the Dodgers are ruining baseball…I did not hear those comments when Fox and Frank McCourt owned LAD. Nobody cared what the Dodgers did.
Excellent analysis Jeff! Sour grapes from all of those teams. And some of the media have started saying the same thing. Ohtani is a cash cow, and it is only going to get better for the Dodgers. Jake Lamb signed a minor league deal with the Giants. He was in the Pirates organization last year.
Great article Jeff, you mentioned the Padres mess this off season, it’s a shame Peter Siedler passed away, and to see the family fighting over management of the team. I dislike the Pads as much as everyone else, but Peter was good for baseball, he was an owner who was trying to win. He made bold trades, spent money on FAs, and signed his young key players to major contracts. Now if the Padres can do all of that why can’t more owners be like Peter Siedler, and Mark Walters , no they would rather sit back and complain about the Dodgers, all while lining their pockets with a lot of money. I am so thankful that this ownership group bought our beloved Dodgers.
Amen to that. Best thing that ever happened since the O’Malley’s sold the team.
Great stuff, Jeff.
Shohei, the $700-million man (mostly deferred), has been an astounding financial boon for the Dodgers and MLB. And “baseball” as a whole too, as the sport continues to grow in popularity around the world. Shohei’s international popularity rivals (that of Lionel Messi or prime Michael Jordan. (A pitching prospect from South Sudan? Who saw that coming?)
It seems safe to say that the Shohei Effect has exceeded all expectations. We expected him to be good–but I don’t recall anybody predicting the first 50-50 season. We certainly thought an MVP and a World Series was possible. But Shohei and his teammates delivered that and more.
As I’m writing this, a report just came up on YouTube’s Foul Territory noting that MLB had a record $12.1 billion in revenue in ’24. Revenues up more than 33% over the last 10 years.
It’s good for the game, and for business, that the Dodgers have become the new Evil Empire. Could the Dodgers be a dynasty like the “damn Yankees” of yesteryear? The gauntlet of the modern postseason would make that very difficult.
When the Dodgers sign that stud third baseman from Japan, it will be like Godzilla on steroids. The King Kongs just need to step up their games.
Getting better, visits from the family always help, My sis, Donna, daughter Carrie, me and my granddaughter, Laycee.
Great picture Bear.
Glad you are feeling better. Nice pic.
Great to see you and your pit crew, Bear.
Excellent article Jeff. You covered a lot of financial information in detail. Very astute analysis. However, you tailored your statistics to support your desired conclusion that the Dodgers approach is not bad for baseball. And you seemed to call any people who disagree as brain challenged. Sounds like another blog that labels those who disagree as morons.
In your detailed article, you didn’t mention that the Dodgers 2025 payroll now exceeds every other team significantly at $370 million. The next highest is about $300 million. The bottom 15 teams average around $100 million payroll. And the Dodgers have $830 million guaranteed over the next 3 years, while the next highest guaranty in the MLB is $492 million. And that three of the final four teams in MLB last year were in the two largest markets with top 5 payrolls.
The randomness of the baseball postseason does make it difficult for teams to repeat and does allow for less talented teams to win in the playoffs. However, the large market teams have a significant revenue advantage over smaller market teams in the MLB. This is resulting in a big payroll discrepancy between the top spenders like LAD, NYY, and NYM and the smaller market teams like Pitt, Oak, and Tampa. Well run teams in smaller markets like Tampa and Cle can occasionally compete but everything needs to go perfect and then their top talent goes to the bigger markets. Like Lindor, Cole, Snell, and Glasnow.
I think baseball is a great game, but the NFL is more popular in this country by far. While KC is going to their third Super Bowl in a row, it has nothing to do with their market size or their payroll. They have a great QB and great coaches and are a well run franchise. (And maybe they have some friendly refs as well!). The AFC conference championship was between KC and Buffalo, two of the smallest markets in the NFL. And Washington made the NFC championship this year after having the second worst record in the NFL last year. The NFL is designed to share almost all revenues equally, and to ensure that team payrolls are roughly the same. The NY Jet payroll is roughly the same as the Buffalo payroll. Accordingly, the relative success or failure of an NFL team is not tied to their market or payroll amount and does not favor large market teams like MLB does. Every NFL team has a chance to become a Super Bowl contender in 2-3 years like Washington did this year. The Detroit Lions were cellar dwellers for decades but are now one of the best teams in the NFL. The Chargers went from 5-12 to 11-6 in one year. Alternatively, for 10-12 MLB teams there is not that level of hope. The Rockies are not going to win the division or make the playoffs this year. In fact, I would be willing to bet that they don’t win the division for at least 10 years and probably the next 15 years. And the White Sox, A’s, Marlins, and Pirates chances aren’t much better.
The payroll and revenue discrepancy is not the fault of the Dodgers. It has more to do with MLB structure and the ownership structure of the Dodgers. I believe that other leagues do not allow hedge funds/ investment firms to own franchises. The Guggenheim group is uniquely qualified to take advantage of deferred salaries and investing the funds profitably. But the Dodgers, along with the NY teams, have a big advantage in total revenues which translates into larger payrolls which should improve their chances of winning. The MLB playoff format limits the chances of the same team winning every year, but the Dodgers are well positioned to make the playoffs for the next 10 years in a row, while the Rockies most likely will make the playoffs zero of the next 10 years.
It may not be bad for MLB if the Dodgers, Yankees and big market teams dominate the MLB the next decade. The World Series ratings were up with the LAD-NYY World Series this year. But it is not good for the small market fans who often start the MLB season with very little hope of success.
A key point in your discussion is that all NFL teams spend around the same amount. Is there a disparity between MLB big market teams and places like Pittsburgh? Yes. But small market teams are not spending what they could (even the owner of the Cubs has recently claimed poverty). So rather than a salary cap, how about a salary floor?
Which gets to the issue of unintended consequences of the current playoff system. Yes, more teams can make the playoffs and have a chance to win. But it also means that a team’s ownership can spend, say 80 million on their team rather than 100 million, make the playoffs and pocket the rest.
One last point, is it really bad for a sport to gave an “evil empire”? Viewship during this past WS would suggest not.
FYI; Ken Rosenthal discusses this topic during a recent podcast.
Dodger fans stopped jamming Dodger Stadium towards the end of McCourt’s tenure. Big cities need good teams to pump money into the league because too many small market teams have too many seats, even with their young stars given to them through early draft picks earned by losing games.
Dodger fans shouldn’t have to be less because the Florida teams etc can’t put butts in seats.
Interesting point about the randomness of MLB playoffs skewing the perception of parity.
Really interesting
This was a guy’s response to those who insist that the Dodgers are ruining baseball.
Sunday Lasagna
January 19, 2025
The Dodgers didn’t sign the top free agent batter or pitcher, Soto and Burnes, nor do they appear to be interested in the #3 rank Free Agent Alex Bregman
Instead they signed 32nd ranked Free agent Conforto to play RF, international FA Sasaki for the rotation and 26th ranked Free Agent Kim to help the infield.
Could have been Soto, Burnes and Bregman, but it is Conforto, Sasaki and Kim.
Dodgers didn’t buy the best, they bought solidly but not the best,
Dodgers signed the #4 Snell to replace the #8 rank free agent Flaherty
Teoscar re-signed
37th ranked Free Agent Buehler went away
Dodgers signed the #14 overall and top ranked reliever
The Dodgers actions on paper just don’t seem so overwhelming, but they sure have caused a lot of anger.
Good points
Jorge, this is an excellent analysis by this writer. As in many cases, when people get so angry, if they would take a step back and look at the big picture of what really happened in free agency they might be able to save themselves a lot of wasted energy. The Dodgers got decent value with their signings. As opposed to the Mets extreme overpay signing for Juan Soto.
It is one thing to spend money, it is quite another to spend it wisely.. Mets and their fans will live to regret the Soto signing and contract. And I will be loving it.
AF and the Dodgers have spent wisely for the most part. Only the Taylor and Bauer contracts were not wise.
Good post Jorge that was a great perspective of this issue.
Well…. I’d say the Dodgers signed Snell instead of Burnes, not Flaherty.
And the Dodgers moved quickly to do so.
Similarly, the Dodgers jumped ahead of the market in signing Conforto. And both Hye-seong Kim and Tanner Scott have said the Dodgers were the first teams to contact them in free agency.
All of this suggests that the front office had a clear, detailed plan about who they wanted and who they would cut ties with–including Buehler, Flaherty and Lux.
Were the Dodgers actually “in” on Soto–or were they participating as a matter of due diligence and to drive up the price that the Mets ultimately paid? (Even now that price may have compromised the Mets relationship with Alonso.)
My heart wanted Buehler back… but with Sasaki now on board, where would Buehler fit?
I hope he’s great for the Red Sox. When will Flaherty get a contract he deserves?
No one seems to be jumping all over Cohen for spending 762 million on Soto, who although he is a very talented young player, has nowhere near the status of Ohtani nor his ability to generate significant money in advertising from his home country. Had LA lost the World Series, I doubt much would be said about any of their signings.
Interesting read Jeff. No one was moaning when the Yankees bossed it.
One thing I can’t understand is the dislike of Max Scherzer among Dodger fans?
He was absolutely lights out for us, and even saved a game for us during the playoffs if I remember correctly, on short rest.. He then got injured.
What am I missing?
Scherzer was not injured. He quit on the Dodgers when he was needed the most. Dead arm my ass.
Harsh!
I don’t know if Scherzer was hurt or had “a tired arm.” Right now, I just don’t think he makes sense given the depth of the Dodgers’ pitching talent.
I think fans were disappointed because his injury was described as tired arm. But then after he left via free agency, he chastised the Dodgers for not using him enough, and that caused the tired arm. That was the point where a lot of fans drew the line. Yes. he did an excellent job during the regular season, including his 7 perfect innings against the Padres when he reached 3000 K’s. He lost his start to the Giants in game 3 of the LDS after pitching in a terrible wind 1-0. He pitched 4.1 innings in the Wild Card game against the Cardinals, making 94 pitches, walking 3 and allowing 3 hits and a run. He threw exactly 13 pitches when he got the save on a day he would normally throw anyway. His last game was game 2 of the LCS, he went 4.1 innings again and was pulled after he allowed the game tying homer to Joc Pederson with 1 out. He had made 79 pitches to that point, but down 1-0 in the series, and him obviously not having his best stuff, he was pulled. He did not pitch again. LA ended up losing 5-4. Scherzer blasting the organization later alienated a lot of fans, including me. It was the third day after his game 3 start when he made the relief appearance, rest would not have been a factor.
Ohio and Michael thank you for you explanations, and Michael glad to see you on the mend, and cool picture with your family.
Im afraid I really don’t see what you see with Scherzer.
On July 30, 2021—the day of the MLB trade deadline—with the Nationals under .500 and Scherzer in the final year of his contract, Scherzer was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgersalong with Trea Turner in exchange for Josiah Gray, Keibert Ruiz, Donovan Casey, and Gerardo Carrillo.[174] Scherzer made his Dodgers debut on August 4 in Los Angeles against the Houston Astros, pitching seven innings and giving up two runs and striking out 10 batters, and earned the win.[175]
On September 12 at Dodger Stadium, Scherzer struck out Eric Hosmer in the fifth inning in a contest versus the San Diego Padres to become the 19th pitcher to reach 3,000 strikeouts.[176] In the second inning of the same game, Scherzer achieved his third immaculate inning, tying Sandy Koufax and Chris Sale for the most immaculate innings thrown in a major-league career. Additionally, Scherzer had taken a perfect game into the eighth inning until Hosmer doubled to deep right field with one out.[177] On September 13, Scherzer was named NL Player of the Week. It was the sixth time in his career that he earned Player of the Week honors.[178] In his first nine starts with the Dodgers, Scherzer allowed five earned runs in 58 innings for a 0.78 ERA.[179] He finished the 2021 season with a 15–4 record and led all qualified pitchers with a 0.86 WHIP and a .185 batting average against.[21] He started for the Dodgers in the Wild Card Game against the St. Louis Cardinals, pitching 4
+
1⁄3 innings, while allowing one run on three hits in a game the Dodgers eventually won 3–1 on a walk-off homer.[180]
As the starting pitcher in Game 3 of the NLDSversus the San Francisco Giants, Scherzer completed seven innings in a 1–0 losing effort, allowing only Evan Longoria‘s solo home run in the fifth inning.[181] It was the Dodgers’ first loss with Scherzer on the mound.[182] Pitching on two days’ rest, he earned his first major league saveon October 14 in Game 5 of the NLDS, to seal a 2–1 series clinching victory.[183] He started in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Atlanta Braves, pitching 4
+
1⁄3 innings and allowing two runs on four hits while striking out seven.[184] He remarked after the game that he felt like his arm was dead in the game and was unable to properly get loose.[185]He was scheduled to start again in Game 6 but was scratched from the game because he was still dealing with arm soreness.[186] As his contract signed with the Dodgers expired, Scherzer became a free agent following the World Series.[179]
Scherzer was named the Sporting News NL Starting Pitcher of the Year,[187] and Players Choice Award winner for NL Outstanding Pitcher.[188] He placed third in the NL Cy Young Award balloting receiving six first-place votes.[189]
This is the Wiki page describing his time with the Dodgers. When i read this stellar performance I have to ask myself why he would suddenly quit on the team? What possible reason could there be for him suddenly not wanting to win, especially after this incredible half season? It doesn’t make any sense that he would just give up, and make some lame claim about a tired arm?
He was obviously struggling in that last start, so why wouldn’t he be feeling something, I mean it happens all the time. Something similar happened when he then went on to win a Ring with Texas. He was injured but managed to pitch when he could.
If the angst is because he gave an explanation when questioned on what might have caused the “Tired Arm”, he gave an honest answer on that he felt he hadn’t been utilised in the best way for him – namely no enough innings. Surely he knows his body better than anyone?
As a future first round HOF certainty he deserves a bit more respect. It simply makes no sense for him to suddenly quit on the team.
Would it have been better for him to pitch injured and get shelled like everyone’s blue eyed boy did a couple of years later?
I think we all know the answer to that.
Not the point I was making, we all know what he did, if he had a tired arm, that was not the problem, the problem, especially for me was his blaming his late season arm problem on the way he was used by the Dodgers. Hey, if your arm is dead, it’s dead, no problem there, but saying it was the Dodgers fault because they did not use you enough? Sounds like an excuse to pass the buck to me.
Exactly.
Michael— normally I would agree. But you have to admit the Dodgers haven’t shown in the past few years that they know how to handle pitchers very well — especially starters. Max is old school and wants the ball. The Dodgers think a quality start is four innings, so maybe in his case he was right.
Not the point at all, LA was playing it safe with him. As a Dodger he averaged a little over 6 innings a start. And the guy was 36 years old, and you do not change what you are doing for one person on the staff.
He hasn’t been the same pitcher the last couple of years, he is nothing more than a starter, and he really has no spot on the Dodger roster with the pitchers they have.
Actually, a whole lot of people moaned about the Yankees.
Let’s not forget that, before the much-reviled George Steinbrenner era, “Damn Yankees” was a hit musical. The plot revolved around an aging fan (of the Cardinals, I think) who sells his soul to the devil to become a superstar player who helps his team vanquish the hated Yankees.
Great fun.
It was only in recent years that I learned how the Yankees of yore were able to use the KC Athletics as a talent source because of the interlocking business interests of the ownership. The Yankees would send the A’s aging players for young guys like Roger Maris. Now it seems like the Dodgers have a special relationship with Japan.
I actually think the Dodgers are saving baseball. People love to either watch and root for the Dodgers (and their stars) or watch and root against the Dodgers. Anyone remember the Yankees of the 70s as a very good example of this issue. The Dodgers brass are only spending money to make money, a whole lot of money and value.
If anyone is concerned about who is ruining baseball they should look at the rules committee and the owners. Come on, the phantom runner being placed on 2B in extra innings is a travesty to the rules of baseball, that’s one example of very stupid and gimmicky rules. Also, if anyone is ruining baseball it is the umpiring issue in baseball, it is extremely obvious on how awful balls and strikes are called, the technology is there to get balls and strikes called correctly. also, for the owners to allow very poor umpires to put into the playoffs and WS is really beyond the pale. Can you say DEI assignments (that should set Badger off).
So are the Dodgers ruining baseball? No not even close.
Is the commisioner and powers at be ruining baseball? Absolutely.
I absolutely agree that MLB needs to fix the umpiring issues. The lack of consistency and accuracy calling balls and strikes for me is the most frustrating problem in baseball.
Dodgers are definitely not ruining baseball. The owners that don’t spend all their revenue sharing money are ruining baseball. They don’t need a salary cap, they need a salary floor. Starting at $150M.
Baseball being ruined?
Hardly.
“The 2024 Major League Baseball season recorded increases in attendance, viewership, streaming, and fan engagement in its second season of new rules which have shortened games, removed dead time, helped showcase the athleticism of the players and created more action on the bases. The 2024 MLB season recorded the largest attendance in seven years (2017) with a total of 71,348,366, a +1% increase over last year’s total. The growth marks the first time MLB attendance has registered back-to-back attendance gains in 12 years (since 2011-12). Since the institution of the new rules, attendance has grown by nearly 6.8 million marking a +11% increase since 2022.”
The money is flowing and I’m certain nobody at the top wants to f with that. Fans are always going to growl but as long as the money is rolling in nothing will change.
We will see something done about the strike zone. It’s time. But putting a lid on large market teams? Nope. Not gonna happen.
Dodgers are still on the hook for $17M with Taylor. If they ate $12M to facilitate a trade and signed Kike for $5M, the money would be a wash and the Dodgers would be better. AF should be able to find a team that would take Taylor for $5M.
C’mon AF, get creative and bring Kike back.
Other than add spirit to the team, what does Kike’ do that Taylor can’t?
Start postseason games and produce.
😃
Kike is not needed. AF has probably already made his decision, otherwise why make a move with just 2 weeks before camp opens? Cannot see the logic in that.
Correction: Kike is not needed UNTIL OCTOBER.
If Kike understands this, and his been told this, he’ll hold off on signing with anybody until we’re ready to add him to the roster.
Agree 100%. Kiké Hernández is not going to sign until after February 10, when pitchers and catchers report, signaling the beginning of Spring Training and roster manipulation. The Dodgers have five players who will be eligible for the 60 day IL thus opening a potential five spots on the 40 man. That is presumably when Kershaw signs, and he too could be moved to the 60 day IL.
Kiké signed February 26 last year. I would not be surprised if Kiké signed with LAD or did not.
There is no proof or stories anywhere saying he will absolutely re-sign with LA. Maybe AF resigns him and maybe he does not. If he does, they still have too many middle infielders, who gets cut when they fix the final 26? I do not think Kike will be a Dodger this year. I do not see him as a need.
In response to RC Dodger above.
Fair argument all the way around. The brain challenged comment comes from the consistent dribble from the Padres fans comments on MLBTR when they make the same inane comments over and over again regarding deferrals and LAD ruining the game because they actually won a World Series. They had no problem mocking Kershaw in 2022. They have no clue how deferrals work and yet the Dodgers are cheating because they do. So give me a description that is more apt for these?????
Interesting that you used Pittsburgh and the A’s in your reply. Bob Nutting bought the Pirates in 1992 for $92MM. As of March 2024, the franchise was estimated to be worth $1.32BB. He is notorious for taking his revenue sharing $$$ and sticking it into his pockets and not spending it on the team. John Fisher bought the A’s in 2005 for $180MM. Value of the A’s is $1.2BB. Fisher would not be spending on payroll this year if he was not required to. Do you honestly believe that Nutting or Fisher give a rip about winning? Their investment continues to climb thanks largely to the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, and Boston franchises. Those teams are willing to spend to put a competitive team on the field, and the Pirates and A’s owners are all too happy to have their stadiums fill up because of the other teams.
It is not an apples to apples comparison in revenue sharing between NFL and MLB. NFL revenue sharing comprises of the total national media rights, league sponsorships and shared revenue and royalties from the league’s various affiliates and subsidiaries, such as NFL Properties, NFL International and NFL Enterprises and added up to roughly $13 billion in 2023. Each team received $400MM. The revenue grew to $14BB in 2024.
“The NFL is a made-for-home sport as ratings continue to soar. According to a recent US first-quarter 2024 Consumer Insights survey completed by S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan, in which NFL viewers were asked to identify how they engaged with the NFL over the past year, only 12% said they had attended an NFL game in person while 82% indicated they watched live games on TV or through a streaming service. As such, The NFL Network Package is $110BB for 11 years.”
Here is an article on the NFL media rights:
https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/research/as-nfl-revenue-rises-current-media-rights-deals-ensure-future-success
MLB is not a made-for-home sport until the playoffs. They need gate receipts and the teams that put the best players on the field get the gate receipts. For 2023 the revenue sharing for local revenue generated $110MM for each team and another $90MM for network revenues. $200MM. That is 50% of what the NFL generated.
The NFL teams do not have a problem spending the salary cap. Many of the player contracts are not guaranteed in the NFL. Of course the elite players have many of the contract clauses that protect them like roster bonuses, skill guarantees, cap space guarantees.
The NFL does not have a MiLB system that they have to pay for. College football is the unaffiliated NFL minor leagues.
The NFL has 8 or 9 home games, while MLB has 81. That is 81 home games where parking, stadium, ticket sales, concessions, etc. personnel need to be hired and paid for vs 8 or 9 in the NFL.
Every one of the MLB contracts is 100% guaranteed except for special cases like Trevor Bauer, Wander Franco, and suspensions due to PED usage.
Draft picks can be traded in the NFL, but not MLB, except compensatory draft picks. The Dodgers have not selected in the top ten since Clayton Kershaw in 2006. The draft signing bonuses are limited in MLB, not in NFL. The Dodgers are at a complete disadvantage with the draft, and can do nothing about it. So they have to use the one big advantage they have, and that is pay for the elite players.
Should the Dodgers be penalized because they knew how to properly market Shoehei Ohtani and Arte Moreno did not? Ohtani reportedly allowed Moreno an opportunity to match the LAD offer. Moreno said no.
Good MLB organizations have scouts worldwide. Others choose to limit those resources. Should the good MLB teams be penalized for their player evaluation acumen?
Yes, an elite QB is needed to advance in the playoffs and win a Super Bowl. Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes have proven that. That is not true in MLB.
If you want a hard cap like the NFL, make it a hard cap of $250MM for every team.
Its funny how the narrative has changed over the last year. A year ago the attitude was it doesn’t matter how much money the Dodgers spend they will lose in the first round of the playoffs. That almost happened. They were also ridiculed for a short season championship. Now because they won 1 World Series title they’re the Evil Empire. You would think they have won 5 championships in row the way people are reacting. All the front office did this year was replace the free agent and retirements from last year. Gone Flaherty, Buehler, Hudson, Kelly, Kiermaier, Lux. In Snell, Sasaki, Scott, Yates, Conforto and Kim. While the NFL has a salary cap it’s proves that a smart front office with the best quarterback will win more often than not.
Nice thorough response. Well said!
Good response Jeff. I appreciate your knowledge and financial intellect. Maybe a hard cap at $250 million with a floor would be a good solution but the MLBPA will likely veto the cap.
In terms of Fisher and Nutting making great returns on their ownership interests, while the increase in value seems extreme, they are actually about the same as if they invested in the S&P 500 since 2005. And their returns are below a simple investment in NASDAQ over the same timeframe. Which is probably what Guggenheim is doing with that $1.2 billion in deferral money!
Just my opinion but I prefer the NFL competitive landscape over where the MLB is headed. But Dodger fans should love the current model where LA can spend 3 times more than the average MLB team and generate 4 times more revenue. And then LA can attract the best Japanese pitcher and #1 prospect in the world to sign with them for a minor league contract.
I am not a soccer expert, but the MLB seems kind of like the English Premier League where 3-4 big spending teams dominate the league and the other 16-30 clubs move back and forth between the premier league and the minor leagues. The EPL seems to do well with a few super teams and maybe the MLB will also.
More than a year ago, when people were debating whether the Dodgers should pay the monster bucks for Shohei, it seemed obvious to me that the merger of the Dodgers brand and Ohtani brand would pay off in a big way…. but I did not expect it to be this successful.
I mention this because Ohtani’s previous employer, the Angels, really don’t have much of a “brand” at all. The Angels were much more reliant of Shohei to achieve success.
The Dodgers were already successful–and Shohei made the team more successful, which also makes Shohei more successful… and so on and so forth, as the Ohtani Effect snowballs along, attracting more talent.
I root for the Angels too, dreaming of an October Freeway Series before I die.
This is like a tale of two teams: the best of times, the worst of times…
Bear, are you going to get one of these?
Oh hell no, why would I ruin an Ohtani card with Bonds photo and signature.
😀 You read my mind. LOL
That is one ugly card. Part of the Bonds rehabilitation effort.
An all-steroids-star card could be interesting.
If I were Ohtani, I would be offended.
Padres re-signed Elias Diaz.
Kirby Yates deal is official. 1 year/$13MM plus an additional million if he appears in at least 55 games.
Correction: $500,000 at 50 games and another $500,000 at 55 games.
No corresponding move has been announced yet.
I like nothing about this deal except its length.
But, because of the length it’s hard to really hate it.
What is it exactly that you don’t like about it? He’s been really excellent when healthy. And last year he was healthy.
Better ERA than Scott. Better WHIP than Scott. Better K/9 than Scott.
3.3 bWAR last year which makes him worth far more than 13 mil if you figure about 8 mil/WAR.
By almost any standard with which you want to measure, he was one of the best relievers in baseball last year.
And if he really stinks or get injured and can’t play for most of the year, he’s still getting paid less than CT3.
gettin paid less than CT3 is quite the equivocation.
Deal is not official yet. Still need to clear a roster spot and it has not been announced by the team.
So the Kirby Yates deal is official: one year for $13 million.
And didn’t the bullpen seem pretty darn strong before Tanner Scott was signed?
Who is in Doc’s “trust tree” to start? Yates, Scott, Treinen, Kopech, Phillips, Vesia, Banda. (Brasier is under contract too, but the brass reportedly wants to trade him. And Graterol is recovering from an injury.)
That’s seven to go with a six-man rotation–and the Dodgers have about 8 or 9 legit candidates for the rotation. On Opening Day in Tokyo, these guys seem to be locks: Yamamoto, Sasaki, Snell, Glasnow. The last two spots could be a competition between Gonsolin, May, Miller, and Knack. And maybe Wrobleski if he sparkles in the spring.
Down the road–perhaps after an injury or two–Shohei will be worked in, and farther along we should see Kershaw and maybe Sheehan.
By adding Yates, the Dodgers seem to testing that maxim about never having too much pitching. The depth is just astounding.
And it’s really not fair to a lot of guys who will get passed over on the Dodgers, but would be vital players on small-market teams.
There needs to be some trades.
Best team in the last 50 years coming into spring training?
Pretty close. Most talent for sure and definitely the deepest pitching staff.
Tigers signed Tommy Kahnle
Dodgers and Vesia avoid arbitration. He gets 3.25 million.
Glad they got it done and avoided the hearing.
Vesia’s deal pays him $2.25MM in 2025, with the additional $50K guarantee coming in the form of the buyout on a $3.55MM option for 2026.