The Los Angeles Dodgers’ substantial $389 million payroll has become a major talking point across baseball, dwarfing all but the New York Mets’ payroll by a considerable margin of at least $100 million. While the Dodgers have secured only two World Series titles since 1988, their significant financial investment has raised concerns about the potential for them to establish a prolonged period of dominance, akin to the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL, a scenario that some fear could negatively impact the competitive balance of the sport.
The MLB boogeyman is, of course, the salary cap, which all other major American sports have adopted. Clubs and fans are in favor of installing it to avoid this sort of imbalance, but the player’s union stands staunchly opposed.
Los Angeles Dodgers Operating Within Rules, Say Rob Manfred
“It’s clear we have fans in some markets that are concerned about the ability of the team in their market to compete with the financial resources of the Dodgers,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday. “If we’ve been consistent on one point, it is we try to listen to our fans on topics like this.”
The Los Angeles Dodgers have operated within the established rules of Major League Baseball, acquiring top-tier talent, consistently achieving winning seasons, and generating substantial revenue as a result. Manfred is in the unenviable position of trying to balance what fans want and what is permissible by the current collective bargaining agreement.
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“The Dodgers have gone out and done everything possible,’’ Manfred said, “always within the rules that currently exist, to put the best possible team on the field. I think that’s a great thing for the game. That type of competitive spirit is what people want to see. …
“If I’m going to be critical of something, it’s not going to be the Dodgers. It’s going to be the system.’’
The greatest fear among baseball fans and those within the game would be another strike, something fans have historically bristled at — the idea that billionaires squabbling with millionaires for the express purpose of ruining the game we love.
Commissioner Rob Manfred has expressed a desire for revenue sharing among MLB teams, similar to the model used in the NFL. He has also indicated his support for a salary cap, akin to those implemented in other major professional sports leagues. However, Manfred refrained from issuing any ultimatums or suggesting specific demands for the upcoming collective bargaining agreement negotiations. Nevertheless, following the recent owners’ meetings, he acknowledged the owners’ shared concerns regarding competitive balance within baseball.
“We certainly have owners in the game who are as concerned as fans are about the level of disparity in the game,’’ Manfred said. “Look, we sell competition at the end of the day, you would expect them to be concerned. I think that that issue, combined with the effect of the changes in the media environment, are 1-2 on the radar screen of owners. They’re related, at least right now, because the brunt of the downturn in the regional sports network market has been felt generally in our smaller markets.’’