The Los Angeles Dodgers are simply 4 wins away from capturing their second consecutive World Collection title, thanks partially to the very best energetic payroll of any MLB crew and more than $1B worth of deferred payments that may begin to develop into due in 2028.
A phase of baseball followers level on the Dodgers and say the title runs are solely coming due to the cash the group spent. Those self same followers argue that top sum of money places the franchise out of attain of small- and mid-market groups who haven’t got the television revenue coming in to maintain up with the Dodgers.
The Dodgers hear these feedback … and easily do not care.
That time was made clear by Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts on Friday night time after his crew swept the Brewers out of the 2025 NLCS. His quote from the grandstand the place he and his crew accepted the NL title? “Earlier than this season began, they mentioned the Dodgers are ruining baseball. Let’s get 4 extra wins and actually smash baseball.”
Los Angeles is leaning into the villain function in a approach that might make these in Hollywood jealous. As Roberts wears his black hat and twirls his mustache standing over the damsel in misery tied to the railroad tracks, he laughs as he thinks, “We’re profitable. We all know why and so do you … and we do not care.”
To be truthful, the Dodgers have not damaged any guidelines. They found out a solution to deliver collectively an Avengers-level of expertise inside Chavez Ravine and one which makes different fanbases grumble with jealousy and rage. Their window for profitable is true now, they usually’re taking full benefit of it.
Dodgers have overtaken the Yankees because the “Evil Empire”
There was a day when the New York Yankees had cornered the market on the time period “Evil Empire” inside MLB circles. The Yankees earned that title from Boston Pink Sox crew president Larry Lucchino in late 2002 when his crew was outbid totally free agent pitcher Jose Contreras. In a comment to the New York Times, Lucchino mentioned of the Yankees, “The evil empire extends its tentacles even into Latin America.”
That was greater than 20 years in the past. Occasions change … and so do nicknames and explanation why.
With the Yankees not having gained a World Collection since 2009 and the Dodgers on the verge of profitable their third this decade, it is clear which coast owns the “Evil Empire” mantra proper now within the eyes of 29 different fanbases. It is a title the Dodgers settle for with satisfaction proper now, on the cusp of including to their trophy case.
What occurs after subsequent season when the present Collective Bargaining Settlement (CBA) runs out stays to be seen, as does the impression the Dodgers’ spending has on the negotiations that may encompass what comes with the subsequent CBA. That, nonetheless, is after the 2026 season, one other marketing campaign the place the Dodgers will possible be the favorites to win the World Collection because of a payroll that’s retaining its star energy intact whereas possible bringing in different expertise to spice up the general roster.
Are the Dodgers ruining baseball? Whether or not you suppose they’re or they don’t seem to be, they do not care. They’re simply profitable and loving each minute of it.
