The Athletic has stay protection of Dodgers vs. Blue Jays in Game 2 of the World Series.
Do you know the ruination of baseball might be simply days away? It’s true, apparently. However the group bent on wreaking all that ruination doesn’t appear to care.
Hey, you may’t say these marauding, cash-laden Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t warn us. They’ve really taken manner an excessive amount of pleasure in warning us. It was simply final Friday that Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stood on the NLCS victory podium and just about shouted these phrases into the euphoric California sky:
“They mentioned the Dodgers are ruining baseball,” Roberts said that night, as 52,000 Dodgers followers basked within the glow of that ruination. “Let’s get 4 extra wins and actually destroy baseball.”
Uh-oh. Feels like we’d higher inventory the cabinets of our doomsday shelters. It’s attainable these 4 extra wins might be coming proper up, within the 2025 World Collection, which begins Friday night time in Toronto.
So the Toronto Blue Jays are all that stands between us and the annihilation of this sport as we used to realize it? Hoo boy. It positive appears that manner — apart from one factor …
Um, no, they’re not?
This may not be an actual in style opinion in parts of North America we wish to name “not Los Angeles.” However the Dodgers are not ruining baseball. Actually, there’s a wonderful case they’re really nice for baseball. We’re right here to debate why.
Did Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas Metropolis Chiefs “destroy” soccer?
Did Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors “destroy” basketball?
Did these sports activities simply shut down operations after these groups stored going again to the championship spherical yr after yr after yr? Not that we’ve observed.
Wait. What’s that, you say? That’s not the purpose? It’s not the successful per se? It’s concerning the cash?
Oh, proper. Acquired it. The cash is a factor with these Dodgers. There’s no denying that. However do you know that over the previous 4 seasons, the Mets have considerably outspent the Dodgers in complete payroll ($1.28 billion to $1.12 billion, based on Spotrac)? And greatest we will inform, the one factor the Mets have ruined over these previous 4 years is Hank Azaria’s urge for food.
However we perceive that the ruination of baseball is an actual subject — not simply this October however over the following yr and alter, as we method possible labor armageddon in 2027. So right here’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to review what the Dodgers might probably be ruining — and see whether or not the rumblings match actuality.
First, nonetheless, let’s offer you some reactions to this complete idea. It’s time to ask:
Are the Dodgers ruining baseball?
From left, Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten, GM Brandon Gomes, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, pitcher Roki Sasaki and supervisor Dave Roberts pose after the coveted free agent signed with the Dodgers in January. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Photographs)
As you may think, the individuals who run the Dodgers have some ideas on this.
Dodgers president Stan Kasten: “I believe the query is so silly, as a result of yearly within the postseason, what number of wild-card groups have superior? Baseball is simply not like that. In a brief sequence, something can and normally does occur.”
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman*: “Profitable is difficult. It’s arduous with a giant payroll. It’s arduous with a small payroll. It’s simply arduous.”
(*from an look on The Athletic’s Starkville podcast throughout spring coaching.)
A high-ranking government of a smallish-market group: “You may’t purchase championships. You may’t. You should purchase your option to being very aggressive. However shopping for a championship? No. For those who’re enjoying within the Wild Card Collection, you’ve bought to win 13 video games to win the World Collection. If not, you’ve nonetheless bought to win 11. In order that’s not simple — for anybody. … (If we will simply get in) I’ll gladly take my possibilities towards the Dodgers or the Yankees in a five-game or seven-game sequence.”
Boy, that didn’t sound very ruinous in any respect. However perhaps you disagree. Whether or not you do (or don’t), do you know we’ve got a ballot you may vote in? Are the Dodgers ruining baseball? You can tell us right here. And see the early results here.
However whereas we await your reasoned, considerate, not emotional-at-all responses, let’s transfer alongside, and ask …
Is it simply groups that repeat that destroy baseball?
Does that sound like a trick query? If it does, it means you’re completely on to us. If solely groups that win back-to-back World Collection can destroy baseball, this sport is in superior form.
Baseball has issues. Can’t argue in any other case. Wouldn’t even argue with anybody claiming it has a big revenue-imbalance drawback. It must work on that. However you recognize what has been the least of its issues?
The identical group(s) successful yearly.
That’s as a result of … no, they don’t.
Let’s run by way of this as soon as once more. No group has gained two straight World Collection in 25 years. That’s the longest hole between repeat winners in historical past – amongst any of the 4 main North American males’s skilled sports activities.
The Dodgers are solely the second champ since 2001 to get again to a second straight World Collection. And the opposite — Matt Stairs’ 2009 Phillies — did that 16 years in the past. You realize why that’s? As a result of the greenback payments and the direct deposit transfers don’t play the video games. Actual people play the video games. And so they’re all the time reminded: Profitable is difficult.
“I’ve been within the World Collection,” mentioned Kasten, who was the president of these Atlanta Braves groups within the Nineties that went to the postseason each darned yr — and gained one World Collection. “My groups by no means gained two in a row, as a result of it’s arduous. I believe any group that wins twice deserves a Wacky and Wild column, as a result of it’s arduous, man. You must do every thing proper, after which all of the breaks should go your manner. And that’s actually arduous.”
Nevertheless it isn’t solely these Braves groups and these current Dodgers groups which have been reminded that successful is difficult. This goes again a quarter-century now.
The earlier repeaters — the 1998-99-2000 Yankees — could have appeared as if they had been ruining baseball, too. However did they? Shortly after that three-peat occurred, baseball groups began sharing much more income. And whereas that hasn’t stopped the Yankees from spending, it hasn’t transported them to the Canyon of Heroes a lot, both.
Does it inform us something that of the previous 22 World Collection (counting this one), the Yankees have performed in solely two of them … and have gained one in all them? It kinda looks as if it does. Do you know 18 of the opposite 29 groups have performed in a World Collection for the reason that final time the Yankees gained one? What about that interprets to groups that repeat positively destroy baseball?
Oh, and another factor. These Dodgers may appear to be the Michael Jordan Bulls to a few of you. However there seems to be a excessive chance that MLB will insist on enjoying out this whole World Collection anyway. And sure, the Dodgers have been knowledgeable of that.
“As we stand right here right this moment,” Kasten mentioned, on the day the Dodgers booked this World Collection reservation, “we haven’t performed something but.”
All proper — what about three out of six?
The Dodgers have a good time after defeating the Yankees to win the 2025 World Collection. They’re attempting to win their third title in six years. (Maddie Meyer / Getty Photographs)
Wish to broaden the window past two Octobers? Let’s try this. If the Dodgers win this World Collection, that might make it three they’d gained previously six Octobers. So would that be an indication this sport is damaged?
Ehhh, Madison Bumgarner’s 2010-12-14 Giants would really like a phrase, please.
“I heard final night time that the Dodgers have gotten an opportunity to win three out of the final six,” mentioned the smallish-market exec, who was granted anonymity so he might converse freely. “Nicely, 10 years in the past or so, the Giants gained three out of 5 years. So if the Dodgers win three out of six, I don’t really feel like that’s that vital. … If they begin successful three or 4 in a row and that is now non-competitive, that’s one other story.”
However “non-competitive” isn’t how you’d describe this sport since this model of the Dodgers turned a pressure. The Dodgers have operated underneath this possession group, plus a Friedman-led entrance workplace, for the reason that 2015 season. Since then …
• 28 of the 29 different groups have performed postseason baseball video games. (The one exception: Arte Moreno’s Angels.)
• And 15 of the 30 groups have performed within the World Collection. Sure, 15.
So how have these Dodgers ruined baseball once more? If we instructed you that over the following decade, that group you root for has a 50 % shot to compete for a championship, would you’re taking that? Or would you say: Shut down this complete frigging sport till we get a system the place any group can win? You realize, similar to (cough, cough) the NFL.
Which is the Any-Crew-Can-Win Sport once more?
We’re going to take a brief detour right here as a result of we will’t assist ourselves. Each October, we hear the identical whining.
The Dodgers are within the World Collection once more? Oh, no. Why can’t baseball be extra like soccer, the game the place Any Crew Can Win?
We had such a superb time dispelling this delusion last February during Super Bowl week, we’re going to run that again. Right here’s an excerpt from that column, besides with an replace to incorporate this postseason:
Wish to guess what number of groups have performed within the final 9 Tremendous Bowls? Consider it or not, it’s solely eight. Sure, eight. Out of a possible 18 slots, simply these eight groups have proven up: the Chiefs, Eagles, Patriots, 49ers, Buccaneers, Rams, Falcons and Bengals.
In the meantime, within the Sport That’s Damaged, you understand how many groups have performed within the final 9 World Collection? That might be 11: The Dodgers, Yankees, Rangers, Diamondbacks, Astros, Phillies, Braves, Rays, Nationals, Crimson Sox and now the Blue Jays.
So the largest delusion of all is that baseball is that sport the place you may simply purchase your self a parade. Within the final 15 seasons, the group with the largest payroll has gained all of it precisely twice – the Dodgers in 2024 and the Crimson Sox in 2018.
Even when we begin with 2001, it’s solely 3 times, with the 2009 Yankees becoming a member of the record. As just lately as 2023, the groups with the 2 greatest payrolls — the Mets and Yankees — didn’t even make the playoffs.
So earlier than you play that Why Can’t Baseball Be Extra Like Soccer card … cautious what you want for!
Sure, however aren’t the Dodgers completely different?
No person goes to faux it isn’t useful to have a bazillion {dollars} to spend money on every thing that would presumably result in extra successful. The Dodgers have performed that.
However are they actually breaking baseball? You’ll should work more durable to show that than simply grumbling about this complete repeating schtick. Wouldn’t you need to show that the Dodgers’ spending is so uncontrolled, in contrast with the remainder of the game, that it’s each unprecedented and harmful?
We requested Friedman about payroll disparity on Starkville in spring coaching. He raised a wonderful level.
“I haven’t gone again and spent any time on this,” he mentioned, “however simply anecdotally, I really feel this manner. For those who return and take a look at the early 2000s Yankees, I believe their payroll disparity in comparison with, like, even No. 2, or to the median or no matter, is way more out of whack than what it’s proper now. Really, I believe issues are tighter in a whole lot of methods than they had been then. And for some purpose, it wasn’t a giant subject then, however is now.”
So was that an correct depiction of that period? Seems it was correct. Right here’s a take a look at that seven-year interval during which the Yankees didn’t merely rank No. 1 in payroll; they had been in one other orbit in contrast with whoever was spending the second-most cash, each in {dollars} and % above what the following closest group was spending.
| YEAR | NYY PAYROLL | ABOVE NO. 2 | GAP |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2004 |
$182.8M |
$57.6M |
46% |
|
2005 |
$205.9M |
$94.6M |
78% |
|
2006 |
$194.7M |
$74.6M |
62% |
|
2007 |
$189.6M |
$46.6M |
33% |
|
2008 |
$209.1M |
$71.3M |
52% |
|
2009 |
$201.5M |
$65.7M |
48% |
|
2010 |
$201.7M |
$63.5M |
39% |
In order that’s an unbelievable stretch of seven straight seasons during which the Yankees dished out a minimum of $46 million greater than the next-biggest spenders. Now that’s a stage of spending that might have been nice fodder for the ruin-baseball crowd. Besides in actual life, what did the Yankees destroy?
Sure, it purchased them another title, in 2009. However they appeared in zero different World Collection.
So how do these Dodgers evaluate?
They handed the Yankees in payroll in 2014, then ranked first in every of the following 4 years. However within the subsequent eight seasons starting with 2018, the Dodgers have been the highest spenders solely 3 times, based on Spotrac — in 2021, 2022 and this season. Over the 2 seasons earlier than this one, they ranked third (in 2024) and eighth (in 2023).
In different phrases, they’re merely doing what big-market groups do — and, extra importantly, what they’re presupposed to do. Let’s circle again to the small-market exec quoted earlier as a result of he accepts the very completely different floor guidelines his group works underneath. He simply doesn’t blame the Dodgers for it.
“If I used to be the president or GM of the Dodgers, I’d be doing the identical factor,” he mentioned. “I imply, they’re making a ton of cash. The foundations don’t prohibit them from doing what they’re doing. So why would they sit on something? … I don’t suppose it has something to do with the Dodgers. If something, it’s a difficulty MLB and the homeowners have to determine.”
Are there necessary variations between what the Dodgers’ cash permits them to do versus what groups within the backside half in payroll can do? Clearly. This exec introduced up one in all his group’s proficient younger gamers. He’s a candidate for a giant contract extension. It may not occur — on this group — however the Dodgers wouldn’t blink as soon as earlier than scripting this man that verify.
“If we signal him and we’re fallacious on that, that buries us for a very long time,” the exec mentioned. “We don’t have the means to beat these kinds of signings in the event that they don’t work out, the place groups just like the Dodgers can do it, the Crimson Sox can do it, the Phillies can do it, the Yankees can do it. That’s not even an choice for us. One dangerous contract units us again a very long time. And that’s in all probability what bothers me essentially the most, as a result of it’s depth.
“The depth (the Dodgers) are capable of accumulate … the way in which they use the 40-man roster, and the way in which they’re capable of signal guys which can be injured and simply stack and stash them away. There’s an artwork to that. There’s a whole lot of thought that goes into it. However they’ve the funds to do it. And groups like ours don’t.”
Is the Dodgers’ star energy ruining the game?
The Dodgers have seven gamers signed to assured offers of a minimum of $100 million, together with Shohei Ohtani ($700 million), Mookie Betts ($365 million) and Freddie Freeman ($162 million). (Harry How / Getty Photographs)
We stay in a star-driven land in a star-driven tradition. The Dodgers bought the memo.
They’re bursting with star energy. However is that the identical factor as: The Dodgers signal all the celebrities? Sorry. Not true.
Of the 17 MLB gamers with present contracts guaranteeing them $300 million or extra, three of them are Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. That’s rather a lot. Nevertheless it additionally means 82 % of the gamers in that $300 Million Membership aren’t Dodgers. And the next-largest contract under that group – $288.78 million – belongs to a person who performs for the Kansas Metropolis Royals (Bobby Witt Jr.).
Simply two of the highest 10, by complete {dollars}, are Dodgers: Ohtani and Betts. That’s not much more than the Padres (who even have two, Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr.).
Wish to do that by common annual worth? The Dodgers nonetheless have solely two of the highest 10: Ohtani and Blake Snell.
We don’t current these information to make it appear as if there’s no distinction between the Dodgers and, say, the Reds. Not claiming that.
The Dodgers have seven gamers with offers that assure them a minimum of $100 million. They spent about $1.5 billion on free brokers over the previous two winters. They’re projected to pay greater than $167 million in luxurious tax. These are wild numbers to digest.
And people 4 beginning pitchers they’ve rolled out there this October — Snell, Yamamoto, Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow — to spin off a mixed 1.40 ERA, are rocking contracts that add as much as a mean annual worth north of $160 million a yr. (FYI: We’re utilizing Ohtani’s pre-deferrals AAV of $70 million to compute that.) That’s greater than what 15 groups are paying their total roster.
However are we positive that’s ruining the game? Star energy drives eyeballs — and {dollars} — to those video games, you recognize. Particularly this time of yr. That appears good, not ruinous.
Who is aware of how many individuals will watch this World Collection only for the enjoyable of rooting towards the Dodgers. However we’re prepared to guess it’s extra individuals than present up for Marlins video games.
It’s no completely different from the way in which hundreds of thousands of in any other case dispassionate People have rooted towards Tom Brady’s Patriots, LeBron James’ Cavaliers/Warmth/Lakers and Mahomes’ Chiefs. The NFL and NBA had no second ideas about cashing in on that time-honored dynamic. Why would baseball need to zig after they’re all zagging? (Right reply: It wouldn’t.)
“The sport advantages from the Dodgers,” that small-market exec mentioned. “And in Japan, if it wasn’t for the Dodgers, we wouldn’t have the fan base there that we’ve got. … So once we go to the following massive (nationwide/worldwide) streaming deal, we’re all going to learn from the Dodgers. We’re going to be watched all around the globe due to the Dodgers.
“I do know,” he went on, “that’s in all probability not what individuals need to hear. Nevertheless it’s true. So I simply don’t fear about it.”
A yr from now, when the labor drums are pounding, his group’s proprietor — and possibly all the small-market homeowners — gained’t be telling us that. You may guess they’ll be attempting to persuade us {that a} wage cap will remedy every thing.
They may miss the half about how, within the NFL and NBA, the cap hasn’t stopped Mahomes and Brady, and Steph and LeBron, from enjoying within the finals each darned yr.
Perhaps these homeowners are even rooting for the Dodgers to blitz by way of the Blue Jays to assist “show” their argument. However there’s a greater probability that working to show that time might destroy baseball than that the Dodgers are about to destroy it.
On the latest episode of the Starkville podcast, former Mets common supervisor — and present MLB Community radio host — Steve Phillips had some ideas on that.
“I don’t need that to be the narrative as we go right into a (labor) negotiation,” he mentioned. “I believe it’s a lose-lose for everyone if that’s the notion that everyone has. (In actuality), we’ve had the fewest repeat winners of any of the skilled sports activities. We’ve had essentially the most completely different groups within the playoffs of any of the skilled sports activities. And but all people says, oh, you want the wage cap to have the option … to stability issues out.
“I perceive that it’s completely different. Nevertheless it doesn’t should result in some type of a piece stoppage (as a result of) we’re attempting to repair one thing that’s extra of an issue in each different sport that has the wage cap. And so I fear about it, however I’m hoping that cooler heads prevail.”
“It would not should result in a piece stoppage.”
It is one other implausible Starkville, with @StevePhillipsGM & @realnedcolletti becoming a member of me & @dougglanville with GM perspective on:
Are the Dodgers actually ruining baseball?
Recreation 7
Vlad
Ohtani
World Collection preview
Heaps extra… pic.twitter.com/o3DXnRkP2e— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) October 22, 2025
Cooler heads are all the time the most effective sort of heads. So do not forget that, OK? As a result of for the following week or so, this needs to be compelling baseball theater.
In a single nook, there may be Canada’s team, enjoying for its first championship since Joe Carter’s residence run landed 32 years in the past. And within the different nook, it’s the largest, baddest, most star-studded group on this sport, attempting to do what no group has performed in a quarter-century.
We don’t know what’s about to occur. However no matter it’s, the phrase that gained’t describe it’s ruination …
And we’ll allow you to in on somewhat secret. The supervisor of the Dodgers isn’t a giant fan of ruination, both — so long as the ring suits.
