The Financial State of Baseball
As we look back on past dynasties, it's easy to wonder about the impact of the current situation on how dynasties are made today. A famous baseball team that took over the league was the 1996 to 2009 New York Yankees, who won 5 out of 7 World Series titles during those years. The Yankees were very willing to spend money on players, but also had a focus on building their farm system. There was a mix of homegrown talent, including all-time great shortstop Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and Bernie Williams, alongside additional stars acquired, such as CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeira. Another strong dynasty in the 2000s was the San Francisco Giants. The Giants were dominant and won 3 championships from 2010 to 2014. The key players in these World Series wins were homegrown. Posey, Bumgardener, and Lincecum, to name a few, were the stars of this team during their streak. The Giants do have money, but have never been the highest spenders; they typically fall into the middle of the league when it comes to spending. To take a sharp turn, we move onto the most recent dominant team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers have won back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025, and 1 championship during the shortened COVID season. The Dodgers are the highest spenders in the league and are spending $200 million more than the average team. Their constant roster moves during the offseason have kept their team at the top. They have acquired star players who have led them to victory without many team-developed players. Their most notable acquisitions have been Mookie Betts in 2020, Freddie Freeman in 2022, and the highest contract in all of sports, Shohei Ohtani in 2023. These 3 players will cost the Dodgers over $1.2 billion over the next 10 years, disregarding the deferral of payment. This team is a classic example of the state of baseball today, without any cap or floor on what a team can spend. A change must be made to bring back classic baseball and real competition. From the Sacramento Athletics to the Los Angeles Dodgers, we can clearly see the deficit in how money is being used in baseball.
