The Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees are about to square off in what will be Major League Baseball theater.
Hollywood’s red carpet will roll out at Dodger Stadium and the city that never sleeps will shine under Yankee Stadium’s bright lights for two of the most popular teams in baseball. The aura that’s about to take place on the diamond is outstanding publicity for a sport that desperately needs it.
But for me, a die-hard baseball fan, I don’t need it.
I can admit to both things: this World Series between the two most recognizable franchises and its famous NY and LA logos is good for the fringe fans, but is discouraging for others. The stars of the past 11 times the Dodgers and the Yankees met in the series include the likes of Jackie Robinson, Mickey Mantle, Sandy Koufax, Joe Dimaggio, Roger Maris and even the debut of Vin Scully. This time, the game’s most recognizable players of Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Mookie Betts, Juan Soto, Freddie Freeman and Gerrit Cole will certainly garner attention from outside fans.
As much as I was mesmerized at the thought of this series this summer, I couldn’t help feeling bitter watching the Yankees storm the field in Cleveland on Saturday. I grew up with a hatred toward them, but it was also a reminder that baseball’s biggest problem is team payroll which rewards team spending over smaller market franchises.
I reluctantly tuned into the final inning of the Dodgers and Mets series on Sunday to watch them celebrate on the field, but again, had the same feeling.
I read an article last off-season that was a pity piece for the Yankees, saying it was one of the worst seasons in recent memory. They went 82-80. Some fans deal with losing seasons for decades.
In the off-season, they made a trade for one of the game’s best in Soto and will likely give him something north of $600 million in new money. The Yankees already have a $300 million season payroll before Soto inks — tally that up with Judge’s $40 million per year, Cole’s $36 million, Giancarlo Stanton’s $32 million and Carlos Rodon’s $27 million. Combined altogether, the payroll is good for second in the MLB.
To put that in perspective, the Yankees defeated the Cleveland Guardians in the championship series, who have a payroll two times less and sit 23rd in baseball. The Guardians, respected as one of the smartest baseball offices in the league, stood nearly zero chance and needed late-inning heroic home runs to catch up.
My Detroit Tigers sat in 26th overall in payroll and made the playoffs and even won a series. The Kansas City Royals, the Yankees’ prior opponent, finished 20th.
The Dodgers sit fifth overall $247 million, but have manipulated the system with Ohtani’s contract while angering fans in the process. Ohtani will make $2 million of his $700-million contract per season until 2033, the Dodgers 17th top-paid player. The Dodgers deferred $68 million of his contract from 2034-43, making the $700 million hit more sustainable now. If they paid the full contract right now, they’d be second in payroll, one ahead of the Yankees.
If you’re lost in the numbers, I’ll boil it down for you — pay to win with no penalty. That’s not what should be rewarded in baseball, as fun as this Brooklyn/Los Angeles New York series can be.
In a way, it’s as if teams like my Tigers are eons away from reaching the World Series again unless the checkbook has been dumped out. I’d rather win with player development than buy smaller market team’s players.
All but one of the stars I mentioned earlier were acquired via free agency or trade followed by a big payday from their new teams. In most cases, it’s when owners refuse to pay the hefty price, which is part of the job.
I’ll say it again — it’s good for the sport, but for me, it’s a hard watch.
ryan@news-banner.com
