In a way, what the Los Angeles Dodgers are in the midst of doing isn’t particularly impressive. Despite making it to the World Series for a second season in a row, which they also did in 2017 and 2018, everyone kind of expected them to pull this off. That’s because their payroll of approximately $350,000,000 was the top number in the league.
After signing Shohei Ohtani, it felt like it was a wrap for the rest of MLB. Of course, there were hundreds of games that still needed to be played, but Ohtani has been every bit as advertised, and so have the Dodgers as a collective. That has many fans saying that the Dodgers are “ruining baseball“. It’s a similar sentiment that the New York Yankees endured in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Los Angeles Dodgers have money, but so do other MLB teams
In fact, the Yankees are part of the argument made by Sports Illustrated’s Stephanie Apstein, in an article which hits back against the notion that Los Angeles is ruining the sport.
“The No. 2 Mets ($323 million) didn’t make the playoffs. The No. 3 Yankees ($288 million) were bounced in the American League Division Series.“
Apstein also points out that a lot of the Dodgers’ best players didn’t even initially plan on joining the ball club. But they became available due to differences with their former teams, and the Dodgers simply took advantage.
Los Angeles Dodgers have picked up other teams’ lost stars
“Remember, Shohei Ohtani wanted to remain an Angel. Freddie Freeman all but begged to stay in Atlanta. Mookie Betts thought he would spend his entire career in Boston. Max Muncy was released by the A’s. Tommy Edman was traded while on the injured list. Blake Snell was available to anyone on the open market-twice.“
At a time like this, it’s key to remember what Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper said several months ago when asked about the big-money moves the Dodgers have made: “I don’t know if people will like this, but I feel like only losers complain about what they’re doing. I think they’re a great team. They’re a great organization, that’s why guys wanna go there and play.“
If MLB players don’t believe the Dodgers are ruining the game, then fans shouldn’t either.
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