The narrative that the Los Angeles Dodgers are “ruining baseball” has only gained more traction over the past year, particularly after the team committed over $1.2 billion in future contracts to secure the services of some of the best players in the game, with Shohei Ohtani being the most prominent addition. The Dodgers’ aggressive spending has led to concerns about the impact on the competitive balance of Major League Baseball, especially as they continue to pursue top talent.
Ohtani’s record-setting 10-year, $700 million contract was seen as a major milestone in player compensation, but that record might not last long.
Free-agent outfielder Juan Soto, who is three years younger than Ohtani was at the time of his signing, could be the one to shatter that benchmark.
According to early reports, a bidding war involving several teams—including the New York Mets, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays—could potentially push Soto’s new deal beyond the eye-popping numbers that Ohtani secured from the Dodgers.
The Dodgers themselves, despite their recent spending spree, cannot be counted out of the running for Soto. They were one of the five teams to meet with Soto in person this month, and they still have financial flexibility thanks to the unique structure of Ohtani’s contract, which features deferred payments of just $2 million per year through 2023.
This deferred salary setup gives the Dodgers room to maneuver in free agency, and they could potentially make another splash by adding Soto to an already stacked roster.
However, not everyone is excited about the prospect of the Dodgers adding yet another superstar to their lineup. After the Dodgers captured the World Series title, some voices in the baseball community began to question the fairness of allowing the team to continue accumulating high-profile talent without limitations.
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, a well-known figure in sports media, expressed his frustration with the Dodgers’ spending habits during a discussion with Jon Heyman on their show, “The Show.” Russo didn’t hold back in his assessment of what it would mean for the league if the Dodgers managed to sign Soto.
“I think it’s bad for baseball if the Dodgers got [Soto],” Russo told Heyman. “They signed [Yoshinobu] Yamamoto, they got Ohtani, and now they’re after the other kid pitcher [Roki Sasaki] from Japan. How much is enough? They just won the world championship. Now you’re going to give them another player for $600 million? They’ve already got [Mookie] Betts for $435 million and [Freddie] Freeman is making a pretty penny. How much is enough, for crying out loud?”
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Russo’s comments reflect a broader sentiment among some baseball fans and analysts who feel that the Dodgers’ spending habits are undermining the concept of competitive balance. The team’s willingness to spend whatever it takes to acquire the best players has led to growing concerns that smaller-market teams simply cannot compete.
Russo’s mention of the Dodgers’ pursuit of international stars like Yamamoto and Sasaki highlights just how deep the Dodgers’ pockets are, and the perception that they can dominate both the domestic and international markets without restraint.
During the discussion, Russo and Heyman both speculated that the New York Mets might have an early edge in the Soto sweepstakes.
Whether this is based on genuine insight or merely wishful thinking remains to be seen, but the possibility of Soto joining the Mets instead of the Dodgers might offer some reassurance to those who believe that spreading talent around the league is crucial for maintaining fan interest across all markets.
The Dodgers’ approach to free agency has sparked an important debate about the health of the sport. Is it good for baseball to have one team consistently outspend the competition and accumulate an All-Star roster year after year?
While some fans love to see the best players congregate on one team, creating a potential dynasty, others worry that it makes the league less exciting, particularly for fans of teams that can’t match the Dodgers’ financial power.
This debate is about more than just numbers on a contract—it’s about what’s best for the future of the game. Competitive balance has always been a key element in maintaining a healthy league where every team has a fighting chance to succeed.
While free agency is inherently a market-driven process, the perception that one team can simply buy success may eventually lead to resentment and alienation among the fanbases of less wealthy franchises.
For now, Juan Soto’s next destination remains up in the air, and teams like the Mets, Yankees, Red Sox, and Blue Jays are all expected to make strong pushes to secure his signature.
Whether the Dodgers ultimately add another superstar to their roster or if Soto chooses a different path, the outcome could significantly shape not only the upcoming season but the broader landscape of Major League Baseball.
One thing is clear: the conversation about the Dodgers and their impact on the game is far from over, and their next move will be closely watched by fans, analysts, and rival teams alike.
