The Los Angeles Dodgers have spent an obscene amount of money on players over the next decade. We were all astounded when the news hit that Shohei Ohtani’s contract was for $700M over 10 years. The average annual value of that contract is $70M, which is more than $26M above the previous high for MLB (Scherzer, Verlander).
In the last few years, the Dodgers also committed $365M to Mookie Betts, $162M to Freddie Freeman, $60M to Chris Taylor, and more to others. There is a lot of deferral money involved in Ohtani’s and Betts’ contracts so the impact on the competitive balance tax is not yet known. However, even when spread out, the Dodgers will have very little to work with under the tax threshold for the next several years.
The Dodgers have pursued a strategy of loading the top end and weakening their ability to fill out the roster with quality “B” players. The Mets have pursued a strategy of acquiring prospects and beefing up their player development capability while only intending to spend on key acquisitions to remain “competitive” while the build-out is executed.
Today’s question to the readers:
Who has the better approach?
Let me answer the question this way;
ReplyDeleteHow many teams that have ever had a payroll of over 300mil every won the WS ?
The money is obscene. Baseball better raise its salary cap by $100 million.
ReplyDeleteShohei turns 30 in July next year. Albert Pujols had Lou Gehrig stats until 30, then a significant drop off after then.
It is too much $$ for any player turning 30. IFhe can pitch again it won’t be until 2025.
But the Mets were worse, signing two late 30s aces to obscene $$. The whole thing is obscene.
The Brooklyn Nets tried the “obscene superstar” approach twice in the last 15 years - both were disasters. Hopfully the Dodgers experience similar disasters.
If Cohen gave him this money, oh my God, there would be a baseball meltdown!
ReplyDeleteI read how much he makes the Dodgers in advertising and marketing, and so he is worth it. While I understand that Messi was brought in to save a floundering league and franchise, and therefore got that money, what exactly is the NEED for Ohtani, but not rather the other way around? I don’t care, it ain’t my pocket, but what do 20 or so other franchises say now? This is stupid and the Dodgers can do that because they signed a huge TV contract. Baseball needs to police itself better and needs a system like basketball, where you create payroll slots and put a player in each slot. I know the MLBPA will bitch, but at the end it will keep the balance in Competitive Balance.
Gus
DeleteYou bring up a good point about salaries but teams like Kansas City will never be able to generate the advertising, promo, or TV revenue that markets like LA do.
The NFL system would work with current deals grandfathered in
Mack, all NFL teams share the same money: be it TV revenue or marketing. For all MLB teams to do that, they would all need to be broadcast by the same networks and share the pie. As for attendance, ticket prices, memorabilia, and advertising, that would differentiate. But, at least the Royals and Twins and Cincinnati would have a better chance. This looks like European soccer, where each league has an A diVision of perennial powerhouses and a B division of teams that exist to fill out a schedule, every once in five years, one of those teams might compete, but that’s rare.
ReplyDeleteLastly, I am so glad this was the Dodgers. They are going to learn in a few years that baseball created Ohtani, not the other way around. LOL to them.
The older 30 version coming to a ballpark near you
DeleteI also am so glad this was the Dodgers. This obscene amount of money not only bought one of the best baseball players in the game, but it bought innumerous headaches in the future as the ownership deals with deferred money, salary limits, and oh yeah - injury!
ReplyDeleteI just don't think they will ever achieve value in an acquisition like this.
Without playing the field and not pitching, how much does Ohtani need to hit to be worth the money? I think Bonds’ best season in SF, when he had over a .600 OBP and over a 1.200 SLG as a start. Lol, good luck! And how do other players feel about playing on a team that should wear OHTANI in front?
ReplyDeleteI just wish he went to Toronto and out of the NL. Mets have to get past Atlanta and LAD the next time (if ever) they make the playoffs. That is tough.
ReplyDeleteOhtani from what I've heard is very much all about himself so good luck to the other 25 players on the team and wonder what Freddy is thinking right about now as he and Mookie have to be calling their agents as we speak and couldn't have happen to a better team LOL. It's funny but I wasn't impressed with Ohtani when we played them as his "I'll speak only when I want crap" got old fast and we only saw it for 3 games and it reminded me of the other highest paid player Trout when we played the Angels and he also had that "air" about him so I guess we'll all find out about how this will play out soon enough right.
ReplyDeleteSoto can't wait
ReplyDeleteIt's a good thing Pete can't pitch!
ReplyDeleteOk… so if the Dodgers need to trade him, for whatever reason, how much do they have to kick in?
ReplyDeleteHay,Tex,Cohen,the new Steinbrenner ,spends more than anybody. They even invented a law for him.
ReplyDelete