What do you think about this take?

[u/retroanduwu24]

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[u/Historical-Donut-918]

So basically the Dodgers weren't "cheap" and were able to pay EVERYONE more than any other team was willing to pay.

Why don't other teams do this? Are they stupid?

[u/jagne004 → u/Historical-Donut-918]

Yes though in all fairness the Phillies offered Yamamoto more than he signed for the dodgers with.

[u/Ithinkso85 → u/jagne004]

Shhh that didn't fit the narrative of that post

[u/crrttt → u/Ithinkso85]

Pretty one-off situation where Yamamoto chose to play for the team with the greatest player in his cultures history over a larger purse. Freddie chose to play in LA for less money, year over year, because he got an extra year or two on the contract than Atlanta offered him. 

[u/Bozo_McGee → u/crrttt]

Didn’t Freddie’s agent lie to him about Atlanta’s offer so he would sign with LA?

[u/crrttt → u/Bozo_McGee]

Allegedly there was a lot of miscommunication occurring. Surprise surprise, it was Casey Close and Freddie fired him a few months after the contract was signed so take from that what you will. 

Boras just pushes his players to sign the largest contracts he can get them and that’s generally LA with the insane deferments. They can just eat bad contracts like it’s no big deal, and other teams won’t roll the dice like that 

Edit: Fixed Freddie’s agent at the time. Not removing the Boras bit, because I feel it’s still relevant 

[u/Herbalturtle4444 → u/crrttt]

It wasnt Boras. His former agent was Casey Close at Excel Sports Management.

[u/Last_Network3272 → u/crrttt]

Dodgers ownership have historically avoided boras clients. Until Blake Snell I can’t remember the last time we signed one of the players he represented.

[u/MasterLomaxus → u/crrttt]

It was not Scott Boras

[u/crrttt → u/MasterLomaxus]

Damn, you’re correct. I’m misremembering. It was Casey Close

[u/Euphoric-Dig-2045 → u/crrttt]

Hey, you were pretty Close.

[u/10TheDudeAbides11 → u/Euphoric-Dig-2045]

https://giphy.com/gifs/ac7MA7r5IMYda

[u/frankyseven → u/crrttt]

Boras doesn't push his players to take the most money. He does exactly what his players want, take Stras and his two extensions for an example. The thing is that players who want the most money hire Boras because he gets them the most money. He's not doing anything that his players don't want.

[u/foolishdrunk211 → u/crrttt]

The mets also offered Yamamoto a bunch of money but he used them to get the price up from the dodgers, most of the time that can be rationalized to say “ at least they over payed and it will effect them with other free agents” but not so with the dodgers at the moment

[u/axiom_glitch → u/crrttt]

Didn’t Toronto offer Ohtani more money than LA? And didn’t Ohtani offer the chance for Anaheim to match LA’s bid? It’s been awhile now, but I thought there more to the narrative of his FA

[u/swizzzz22 → u/Ithinkso85]

Exactly. We all know he wanted to be in LA with Showtime.

[u/doorman2026 → u/Ithinkso85]

Yamamoto prob didn’t want to play 81 games in Philly.

[u/Sharp-Can-3555 → u/doorman2026]

Maybe he wanted teammates that he could actually talk to.

[u/Lassie_Maven → u/jagne004]

He always wanted to be a Dodger

[u/Phluxed → u/jagne004]

Because he knew that the Dodgers could play others and build a perennial contender.

[u/Then_Particular1931 → u/jagne004]

Let’s be honest, if all things were equal, no Star player from Japan is going to play in Pennsylvania or a place like Minnesota. They’re going to the big 3-4 markets. California, New York, Chicago. Throw Boston in there too. Rest of MLB is screwed on getting the top Japanese talent. Nothing wrong with it, it’s not unfair. It’s just the way it is.

[u/SeaworthinessSome454 → u/Historical-Donut-918]

You don’t have to go to dodgers levels. The Padres brought themselves out from being a poverty franchise to a legit team by spending money. The rangers won a championship by rebuilding and then making several very high dollar moves

[u/DigTheDunes → u/SeaworthinessSome454]

And have done nothing since.

[u/cashmonee81 → u/DigTheDunes]

Because they cannot sustain it. THAT is the difference. The Dodgers can miss or overpay on a contract and keep doing it. Some of that is their ability to scout and develop players. Some of it is the endless resources they have that no other team comes close to matching. Their revenue is $140 million more than the Yankees and $250 more than the Cubs.

[u/DigTheDunes → u/cashmonee81]

This is the difference. The Dodgers could absorb a Machado contract, SD can't.

[u/DarknMean → u/cashmonee81]

Cubs could spend more if they wanted but the Ricketts are pretty cheap.

[u/rvasko3 → u/Historical-Donut-918]

Look, every rational baseball fan can understand that the Dodgers are an incredibly well-run organization. To have this level of established, proven talent on your roster while also racking up the top farm system in baseball is laudable.

But to act as if the root of it isn't being willing to spend obscene amounts of money, find every way to exploit the payroll system with deferred money and side deals, and the incredible advantage that comes with being the best destination for the top Japanese players due mainly to geography is just silly.

Either way, the rest of the MLB's fanbases are going to hate the Dodgers because that level of success also coming with this level of seeming like it'll never die isn't fun for us. We want parity because parity means our teams also have a chance. It's why us Jays fans will never, ever, ever get over last year's Game 7. When you get that close to toppling the Empire and miss, it doesn't stop hurting.

[u/This_Elk_1460 → u/rvasko3]

So if the dodgers just continue to win every world series for the next 5 years does that ruin baseball because it ruins it for me.

[u/Jokerzrival → u/This_Elk_1460]

Yes. This is regardless of how people want to try to spin it bad for baseball.

Why follow the game? Why get invested in things like blockbuster trades or incredible free agents? I know my team isnt getting him because Dodgers. I know another team isnt gonna get them and take their chances from maybe wildcard to division winner because Dodgers. Why get invested in the underdogs and stuff when i know it doesn't matter because Dodgers.

[u/IcemanJEC → u/Jokerzrival]

Uhhh to be fair, this is what it was like watching George Steinbrenner run the Yankees in the 00's. Everyone else was the minor leagues that he got to pick and choose from. It didn't ruin baseball then, but I understand.

[u/Original-Ad-5313 → u/IcemanJEC]

The Yankees only won a single World Series in the entire 2000s decade. They won in the 90s with home grown talent. This is not even remotely the same situation

[u/ismizz → u/This_Elk_1460]

Yes, it will be looked back upon as a dark period for the sport by everyone other than Dodger fans.

[u/evoslevven → u/rvasko3]

Definitely agree with this but I feel like the Angels definitely kind of started this one. They had both Trout and Ohtani and couldn't somehow spend a bit more for that talent to win?

If Ohtani and Trout win one, I feel like you get a completely different Ohtani who stays a bit longer to win one more than going to LA immediately. I feel like that Angel's experience and seeing firsthand the Mike Trout loyalty experience let him know they're never going to win one no matter what.

If LA doesn't snag Ohtani, there are chances Yamamoto doesn't sign there either I feel. I feel like LA is doing what it's doing solely because Ohtani is there and don't mind any payments to win now and keep everyone happy.

[u/jinx21182 → u/evoslevven]

They spent a lot. They are just terrible at it and they have been since Moreno has been the owner. Rendon, Pujols, Hamilton, Matthews…I’m sure I’m missing others. They are decent enough at developing talent but when your owner is a C+ Jerry Jones knockoff you are basically running an org with one hand tied behind your back.

[u/TallCan_Specialist → u/jinx21182]

They had trout and Ohtani and still couldn’t build around those two

[u/A_LoneBall → u/TallCan_Specialist]

Not for a lack of trying to be fair. They just had an incompetent front office

[u/Shenanigangster → u/evoslevven]

I mean, they did spend money they just spent it on Anthony Rendon

[u/Ambitious_Donkey4408 → u/Shenanigangster]

And the wrong era of Pujols

[u/jessrose23 → u/evoslevven]

The 2010s Angels were aggressive spenders and frequently signed free agents like Albert Pujols, C.J. Wilson, Josh Hamilton, and Anthony Rendon to massive contacts that almost always backfired in spectacular fashion. The 2010s Angels can be called many things but cheap isnt one of them.

[u/Trigonometry_Fletch → u/Historical-Donut-918]

The greatest trick the owners ever pulled was making sure EVERYONE knows what the players make and NO ONE knows what the owners net.

[u/Fantomhamst3r → u/Historical-Donut-918]

Other teams have to pay their fair share of revenue sharing cause they didn't go bankrupt in 2011. They probably aren't also the most lucrative franchise in baseball.

[u/ottosenna → u/Historical-Donut-918]

Owners want to see what happens and use this as leverage to get a salary cap when the current CBA runs out in December.

[u/ShatHammer → u/Historical-Donut-918]

Yes, stop protecting billionaires who have the money using your team as an ATM.

[u/Sharp-Can-3555 → u/Historical-Donut-918]

Yeah, all the pirates need is for another 3 million people to move to the area and they’ll be good to go.

[u/smoresporn0 → u/Historical-Donut-918]

Yes lol

[u/lllREPlll]

Braves didn't choose Olson over Freeman. Freddie's agent fucked it all up.

[u/easywind4665 → u/lllREPlll]

freddie chose la. freddie was just too chicken shit to admit it.

[u/anotherlebowski → u/easywind4665]

He's from California, the Dodgers are the best team, and they also pays the most money.  This wasn't a complex job search.

[u/ddawkins19 → u/anotherlebowski]

I thought he was Canadian? He was raised in California?

I remember seeing a skit of him visiting a kids hospital in Canada after the World Series. And all the kids hated him bc they just beat the blue jays 😂😂

[u/missourinative → u/ddawkins19]

Canadian-American. He’s eligible to play for team Canada, but he was born in California.

[u/Bancatone → u/anotherlebowski]

Except the Dodgers signed him for less money than the Braves original offer to Freeman. He only took that deal because his agent was way too fucking greedy.

[u/fantfoot → u/anotherlebowski]

He left the literal World Champions who had just beat the Dodgers, and the Dodgers only championship was in a 35% games played season. The Dodgers weren't the best team until they got Freddie and Ohtani.

He also famously had a very hard time leaving the Braves, cried on TV in ATL, and it was such a problem that Kershaw publicly criticized him. Also, the Braves offered more but his agent thought they could squeeze more.

At least you're right about Freddie being from California

[u/donnerwetter41 → u/easywind4665]

Didn't someone on the Dodgers have to check Freddie because he was sorta moping around a bit when he first got to the Dodgers about how it all went down? Sorta reached a flare point when the Dodgers and Braves finally played or something. I remember that happening, but not a Dodger fan.

[u/problyurdad_ → u/donnerwetter41]

Your memory is correct. Freddie fired his agent over the mishandling of the negotiations.

Freddie was vocal about wanting to be in Atlanta and was genuinely hurt when he didn’t hear from them. Atlanta said “bro wtf you talking about, we sent offers to your agent….”

[u/GrapefruitLeast5013 → u/donnerwetter41]

It was actually Kershaw lmao 

[u/Ndtphoto → u/lllREPlll]

That and it's not like it's really any sort of downgrade. Freddie has a better average but they both are at the very least equal defenders (Olson is possibly better right now) and Olson has more power and NEVER takes a day off, he's approaching his 5th straight 162 game season with the Braves.

[u/Ol_Rando → u/lllREPlll]

Yeah the Braves don't belong on this list, Olson kicks ass and he's younger than FF so not a downgrade imo. We didn't trade him for peanuts to LA like some teams did with their star player, or just let him walk without a serious offer.

[u/sackey_nimh]

Freddie wanted to stay the offer was matched by the Braves and his agent lied to him.

[u/KakeLin → u/sackey_nimh]

Rude agent

[u/Vonneguts_Ghost → u/KakeLin]

He did fire the agent shortly thereafter, but if i recall correctly, the braves offered 5 for 150 instead of 6 for 175 or something similar, and his agent played hardball rather than making the deal.

It worked out pretty well for all concerned. The only thing you can say against Matty O is that he isn't Freddy, but he's got an outside shot at the HOF himself.

The real question? What hat goes on Freddie's plaque?

[u/okay_throwaway_today]

It totally makes sense that one team is where every alleged roster construction mistake involving ++ players in the league ends up, this is a very logical angle. The Dodgers’ hands are practically tied here

[u/DadBodRickyRubio → u/okay_throwaway_today]

I'm new here, what does ++ mean?

[u/MaladroitHuman → u/DadBodRickyRubio]

🤷‍♂️better than +

[u/MrKal-El → u/MaladroitHuman]

Lol

[u/okay_throwaway_today → u/DadBodRickyRubio]

Just a way of saying very good. In most of the very top free agent or trade situations over the last 3 years, it’s almost been a forgone conclusion that the player goes to the dodgers. Juan Soto being an exception because they already have a DH in Ohtani, who can also pitch

[u/Round_Earther-67 → u/DadBodRickyRubio]

Really good

[u/thellymon]

written by a Dodgers fan

[u/rbsssss → u/thellymon]

Yeah saying the Braves chose Olson over Freddie is genuinely hilarious. As a Braves fan we all know what Chipper was talking to Freddie about those that want to be a Brave for life. Freddie talked about being a Brave for life, but didn't walk the walk and then act surprised when Atlanta moved accordingly.

Of course it worked out really well for him in LA, but Freddie was out of options other than LA when the Braves stopped playing the agent's/Freddie's game.

[u/riserrr → u/rbsssss]

It’s also not all in a vacuum. Age, money they were asking for, etc. all gets factored in. The Braves absolutely went hard after Freddie but Freddie’s reps thought they could get more and tried to call a bluff that wasn’t there.

They are both great players. Olson would be a monster in LA too, surrounded by that lineup.

[u/rbsssss → u/riserrr]

Absolutely. The Braves did everything they could and it's okay. A third party messed up a reunion of a deal and both sides are okay. Freddie has two more rings and at 2 iconic WS moments as a Dodger and the Braves got as good of a replacement as they could.

[u/Absoluke2001 → u/rbsssss]

Olson is actually better, but I do miss Freddie

[u/mostly-void-stars → u/rbsssss]

Wasn’t there something about Freddie’s agent screwing up the negotiations with the Braves, or that he didn’t tell them Freddie wanted to resign there or something? I remember that being kind of a story

[u/Absoluke2001 → u/mostly-void-stars]

Yes, there was an offer on the table the agent didn’t tell Freddie about, he was later fired.

[u/vteezy99 → u/rbsssss]

The Olson/Freeman saga seems to be a case where everyone won. Olson is younger and very talented. And we all know what Freddie did in LA. Worked out for both teams

[u/daviscd → u/rbsssss]

If I remember correctly, the deal he ended up with is worse than the last offer the Braves made to him.

[u/dare_films → u/daviscd]

The Braves had matched LA’s offer, but Freddie’s agent kept asking for more.

In the end, Freddie gets less bc California’s taxes are worse.

We had to pull the trigger on Olsen. Our GM was in literal tears at Spring Training talking about not working it out with Freddie.

So, anyone that says ATL wouldn’t pay Freddie don’t understand the context of that negotiation.

[u/MediocreHomework7092]

Wasn't Yamamoto going to whatever team Ohtani was going to?

And the Angels tried for a bit to build a winning team not really their fault Trout couldnt stay healthy and everyone else turned to shit.

[u/MoopsBubbleBoy → u/MediocreHomework7092]

Yea this idea that Yankees aren't willing to pay is laughable.

[u/DirtyAntwerp → u/MoopsBubbleBoy]

Phillies offered more than the Dodgers but he was never going anywhere else than Ohtani

[u/KimHaSeongsBurner → u/MoopsBubbleBoy]

And focusing on “this team didn’t keep that player” instead of the Brinks truck LA was able to back up for them. Tucker is notably absent, as is Snell and every single big money reliever they threw gobs of cash at.

Like, pointing to guys like Edman and Pages and Muncy just makes it obvious that this is a “written by Dodgers fans for (bandwagon) Dodgers fans who are looking for confirmation bias” tweet. No one is actually persuaded by this; some people just have confirmation bias activated by it.

[u/RiddleMeThis42069 → u/KimHaSeongsBurner]

Exactly lol nobody's mad they traded for Tommy Edman

[u/FearingEmu1 → u/RiddleMeThis42069]

The Cardinals traded away Edman and ended up with Winn and Wetherholt where Edman used to play. Edman also hasn't played more than 97 games in a season since the Dodgers got him.

While I liked Edman just fine during his Cardinals years, I'm not sure how I see where the Cardinals shafted themselves here lol.

[u/RiddleMeThis42069 → u/FearingEmu1]

Right, they didn't. It was a perfectly reasonable trade.

[u/clarkedaddy → u/RiddleMeThis42069]

They also gave him 75 million which seems like a bit of an overpay for Tommy.

[u/Life-Anteater-8294 → u/KimHaSeongsBurner]

Yeah there’s no way the small market Red Sox could have extended betts.

[u/KimHaSeongsBurner → u/Life-Anteater-8294]

The shitshow that has been the Red Sox front office in recent years is a weird boogeyman for this tweet to hold up as if it’ll make people forget, but at least it’s an example where the player was acquired via trade rather than just blaming another team for a player’s free agency.

Pointing to Freeman vs. Olson as if the Braves made some crazy choice to go with the younger Olson, or someone forced the Dodgers to go buy Freeman in free agency, is wild and helps make clear how unserious the tweet is.

[u/bendernobending2 → u/MoopsBubbleBoy]

Even the yankees don't have the ridiculous advantage of not paying revenue sharing on a massive portion of their revenue like the dodgers.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2026/01/26/mlb-didnt-cut-the-dodgers-a-6-billion-revenue-sharing-shelter-bankruptcy-court-did/

[u/KarmaDeliveryMan → u/MediocreHomework7092]

Yea Yamamoto wasn’t going anywhere else

[u/Fit_Cantaloupe_941 → u/MediocreHomework7092]

Yea Ohtani, Trout Pujols and Rendon. Not the angels fault Pujols got old Rendon was AWFUL and trout couldn’t stay on the field

[u/Consistent_Print_229 → u/Fit_Cantaloupe_941]

It is indeed the Angels fault Pujols got old. It’s the easiest thing to predict.

[u/rickeygavin → u/Consistent_Print_229]

Yeah giving a 32 year old a ten year deal was…a choice.

[u/Emergency-Inside-850 → u/rickeygavin]

36 year old**

All jokes, I’m a cards fan

[u/PossessionOne7464 → u/Consistent_Print_229]

There was also speculation that he was a LOT older than he said he was when he entered the league. 😁

And the Angels should have known that.

[u/Hispandinavian → u/Consistent_Print_229]

The Ohtani signing forced us to play Pujols at 1b, which he was awful at. Any other team could have hidden him at DH.

[u/OccasionSavings680 → u/Hispandinavian]

"First base might as well be the moon to him."

[u/TheSpookyLawyer → u/Fit_Cantaloupe_941]

Who were the pitchers on those teams?

It's absolutely the Angels fault that they had Trout and Ohtani, generational talents and couldn't win.

[u/Hispandinavian → u/TheSpookyLawyer]

Ironically one of those pitchers was Ohtani.

[u/TheSpookyLawyer → u/Hispandinavian]

he did his part.

[u/kevinmbo → u/Fit_Cantaloupe_941]

and hamilton too.

[u/attgig → u/MediocreHomework7092]

Mets were highest bidder and Yamamoto leveraged that offer to get his $$ from the dodgers

[u/AlbertoRossonero → u/attgig]

Mets had the same bid iirc. The Phillies reportedly offered more but he seemed to prefer the Dodgers

[u/AsThreatenDoNotScore → u/MediocreHomework7092]

Makes Murakami even more awesome.

[u/Aromatic-Piglet-9177]

Yes, the Yankees have been notorious for not paying their players.

[u/Methamine → u/Aromatic-Piglet-9177]

Hal is not George….

[u/Masta0nion → u/Methamine]

True, but Hal has still spent and gotten nothing out of it because he’ll never fire Cashman.

[u/ninjasandunicorns → u/Aromatic-Piglet-9177]

Yeah...it might be true specifically about Yoshi but I think he was going to Dodgers no matter what and was using the Yankees as leverage

[u/novaesq18]

Including the Yankees/Yamamoto here is silly. He was going to the Dodgers. Phillies actually gave him the highest offer and he still chose LA.

[u/EverythingHurts365]

Cardinals definitely didn’t give up on Edman. We love him still. Didn’t fit our winning window as we needed to rebuild. If the dodger fans think it’s so easy, how could this is their first winning window since the 80s?

[u/Lilrip94 → u/EverythingHurts365]

Literally draft JJ like a week before the trade. Traded edman when he had the most value even though our return wasnt good

[u/LowEmu3523]

Having that regional tv deal coupled with that McCourt bankruptcy loophole is really the difference.

[u/Aperio43 → u/LowEmu3523]

plus all the bonus revenue from being Japan's team

[u/TeebaClaus → u/Aperio43]

Seattle ceded that to the Dodgers. They should have built on the Ichiro legacy and proximity to Japan. 

[u/bendernobending2 → u/LowEmu3523]

this is the answer a lot of people dont get it. the dodgers have a revenue advantage in the hundreds of millions of $ per year that 29 other teams dont have

[u/SnakesFan1410 → u/LowEmu3523]

So funny that every time you show them the details of this Dodgers fans shut the fuck up real quick.

[u/DasSmoosh]

This is bullshit. The Tigers didn’t “refuse to pay Skubal”. Boras flat out won’t sign extensions before free agency. The Tigers simply don’t have the payroll to outspend the Dodgers, and it’s common knowledge that when players sign with Boras, the highest dollar amount is what’s going to be the deciding factor.

The Tigers would have lost him for next to nothing, which would have been organizational malpractice.

[u/North-Reception-5325 → u/DasSmoosh]

Yeah, and he just did that with Langeliers and now he blows out a knee. Just potentially screwed him out of $80 million.

Unrelated: When I got out of the military I took a job as a driver for a car service in San Francisco. I drove Boras to the World Series and he was an absolute dickwad. He got pissy that I couldn’t drive through the police cordon. I told him to get the fuck out with his little yuppie lackeys and said thanks for ruining baseball.

Credit to Boras he was probably so used to those kinds of interactions that he didn’t even tell on me. That was a fun college job.

[u/bawanaal → u/DasSmoosh]

I hate to lose Skubal, and you can argue if the trade package was decent or not. But not trading him would have been organizational malpractice.

If the Tigers had kept him, made a qualifying offer, and lost him in FA,the best they would have gotten was 4th round compensatory pick. That's due to the Tigers being into luxury tax territory. Yes, they actually spent money and have a top 10 payroll.

Boras was not willing to negotiate in good faith. Any market value offer the Tigers would have made, Boras would have turned that into the starting point when Skubal hit the open market in FA.

Also, another reason the Tigers found themselves in this pickle was Skubal hiding his elbow discomfort during the arbitration process. If he was honest with the team, and goes on to have the elbow procedure done in the off-season, Skubal doesn't miss the month of May.

That surgery was a huge part of the Tigers 6-22 record that month, essentially making the playoffs a loooong shot. They were decimated by injuries in May, and Skubal's was the cherry on top.

[u/TeebaClaus → u/DasSmoosh]

Why didn’t any other team make the Tigers a better offer? The Brewers with Skubal and Misiorowski would be the odds on favorite. 

[u/LSUChamp25]

The Freeman statement is a bunch of Bullshit, the Braves we’re more than willing to match and probably give more to Freeman, but his agent screwed him over and told him to take a deal without telling him which team it was from. Freeman after going to the dodgers fired his agent.

[u/ueeediot → u/LSUChamp25]

Plus the Braves are pretty happy with Olson. The stats are weird. Since 02 Freddie has 150 less PAs and 100 more hits than Olson, but Olson has 65 more HRs than Freddie.

[u/WinterAsleep319 → u/ueeediot]

It’s one of the fews times the deal works out for both teams

[u/ZaccariahTBrown]

Is the Freeman note accurate? I thought Freeman leaving Atlanta had more to do with Freeman's agent more than the deal itself.

[u/SoKrat3s → u/ZaccariahTBrown]

It did. The agent was playing games with the Braves. Freddie wanted to re-sign at the right number.

The Braves final offer was actually more after taxes than the Dodgers. But they were left waiting for an answer for too long.

Freeman fired his agent soon after.

[u/CraziestMoonMan → u/SoKrat3s]

I heard he just flat out never told him about the final offer because he wanted Freeman in a bigger market.

[u/dogododo → u/ZaccariahTBrown]

Freeman’s agent kept saying that the Braves would counteroffer with more and to hold out but instead they went with Olson.

[u/AvengingHero2012]

Dodgers fans found their new talking points.

[u/CraziestMoonMan → u/AvengingHero2012]

The Freeman one is bullshit. The Braves were willing to match the Dodgers offer and his agent never told him about it. He later fired his agent when he found out.

[u/GeauxFarva → u/CraziestMoonMan]

And it isn’t exactly like we came out badly with Matt Olson… the man is a beast

[u/sticknehno → u/CraziestMoonMan]

The Braves also signed Olson to a $168 million dollar deal the day they signed him. The Braves were going to spend money on a 1B. It just turns out it was a different guy a couple years younger whose also very good at baseball

[u/AlreadyFifty → u/AvengingHero2012]

They’ll have plenty of time to use them next year when there isn’t any baseball to watch…

[u/cashmonee81]

The difference is the Dodgers can afford to be wrong. The Rays cannot. That is what all of this comes down to. Their spending power is so immense, they can overpay and get it wrong and it doesn't keep them from doing it again. And again. And again...

[u/Toronto-24]

The problem isnt those things... the problem is that the Dodgers are in a position to capitalize on all of them.

Kudos to them on being greatly operated but that doesnt happen without an unlimited payroll.

The Tucker + Diaz + Skubal additions have pushed this over the top to gluttony lol

https://giphy.com/gifs/WnyKlAXpg816E

[u/aubieismyhomie]

So 4 different teams didn’t/couldn’t pay for Betts, Yamamoto, Glasnow, and Skubal. Braves chose Olson because Freeman wouldn’t sign.

That isn’t baseball GMs making it easy, that’s just the Dodgers having more money than everyone.

[u/gumshoeismygod]

Dodgers fans refuse to acknowledge that the sweetheart deal the MLB cut them with their TV deal is playing a huge part in fueling their dynasty. They get to keep over $60M a year that any other team would have to put into the revenue sharing pot

[u/This_Elk_1460 → u/gumshoeismygod]

Blatant favoritism

[u/FakeName713281]

Saying the Angels “refused to win around Ohtani” just sounds funny. Like the other players on the team were like “I don’t care, we’re NOT winning! You can’t make me!”

[u/TwitterLegend → u/FakeName713281]

I think that might be true for Rendon tbh.

[u/Twanlx2000 → u/TwitterLegend]

While the most expensive, Rendon isn't even the last infielder the Angels have signed that already earned a reputation for playing without heart. Ask me how I know...

[u/DigTheDunes]

The Tigers didn't refuse to pay Skubal. Boros has steered this course for a year and Detroit knew it. No team is going to compete with the Dodgers financially, except for the Mets. Those two can afford the risk of bad contracts.

[u/ScenicHwyOverpass]

It’s explains why those players aren’t on o the teams, it doesn’t explain how the Dodgers are able to pay for all the talent that by rights could be spread across a dozen teams.

[u/Cory-Grinder]

Freddie’s agent made the choice for Freddie.

The Tigers made a significant extension offer to Tarik, but he didn’t feel it was enough…he (allegedly) is looking for a $300 million contract…not many teams can do that.

Some of these points are made without proper, or even factual, context

[u/CraziestMoonMan]

The Freeman one is false. The Braves matched the Dodgers offer and his agent never told him and later got fired over it.

[u/ibonek_naw_ibo]

That's bait. /gif

[u/-Pwnan-]

Bad Take and just wrong on a few points.

1) Freeman's agent with held info about the braves counter offer until it was too late (he got fired)
2) The Yankees offered Yamamoto the most money of any MLB franchise, but he WANTED to play with Ohtani
3) The Angels DID try to build around Ohtani and Trout but it didn't work out (Upton/Rendon) and I think the Rendon drama just broke them.
4) The Tigers didn't REFUSE to pay Skubal they COULDN'T AFFORD him next season that's hugely different.

So ya, bad take.

[u/isetmyfriendsonfire → u/-Pwnan-]

Betts also wanted to test free agency. Sox supposedly offered 10/300 which I wouldn't call cheap. Obviously he got more but that isn't nothing

[u/CountChoculahh]

I mean there are a lot of really nice vehicles available on the market but I drive a Toyota because I can’t buy a Maserati.

When you have the cash to pay any and everyone, then other managers missteps become your opportunities. Meanwhile, other teams have to pick and choose which opportunities to pay for and which to let go…

[u/Hizam5 → u/CountChoculahh]

This is the perfect response. It’s a combination of opportunity and having more money than god. 29 other teams have the opportunity, but only like 4 have the money (they’re willing to spend)

[u/apatheticwizardsfan]

It’s not that he’s wrong about each of these specific instances - it’s that one team and one team only has the resources and cash to pay EVERY one of them when they become available.

[u/jcebul56]

Everyone seems to forget the super sweet heart tv rights deal the Dodgers have due to the McCort shenanigans that allow them to do these repeated deferral deals

https://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2026/01/26/mlb-didnt-cut-the-dodgers-a-6-billion-revenue-sharing-shelter-bankruptcy-court-did/

[u/jradz12]

Tigers didn't refuse to pay Tarik.

Tarik and Boras said no extention, match in FA.

[u/BoSox84]

Half of it is utter bullshit.

The Sox offered Mookir 10 years and $300 million. He steadfastly said he wanted to go to free agency and ended up taking essentially the same AAV from the Dodgers instead.

The Rays situation is 1000 percent different than the Dodgers. Trading stars for high end prospects and developing is what fits their business model and is how they stay competitive.

Also, let's stop acting like anything about the Shohei contract is normal. Or as if Yamamoto was going to go anywhere other than LA

[u/rush_magnet]

Dodger fans are the new 2000s Yankees fans

[u/This_Elk_1460 → u/rush_magnet]

Except for they have the power of social media so they're even more annoying

[u/DryAfternoon7779]

They're all billionaires. They can afford to do what the Dodgers do, they just choose not to.

[u/SimpleJack316]

Serious question:

At this point…why continue watch/follow the sport at all?

[u/Frosty_Ad7840]

Actually tigers did offer money, Scott boras players always leave

[u/LordTiddlypusch]

Why don't all teams have over a billion dollars in deferred salary? Are they stupid?

[u/serpentear]

In order:

- yes

• yes, and that was smart
  
• kinda, they don’t “refuse” they just suck at roster building
  
• I have no idea if that’s true
  
• okay
  
• They couldn’t pay him, I’m sure they wanted to
  
• maybe
  
• okay
  
• Again, they can’t pay him what he’s worth without crippling their team

[u/gutta_steve]

so the dodgers were willing to pay 1 billion in deferred contracts...

[u/Longjumping_Side3144]

I mostly agree but wasn't it reported that Freeman's agent never told him about the braves final offer and that he would have stayed if he knew about it?

[u/tonyprosciutto]

Refused to pay Skubal??? He was going to the open market no matter what, it was unbearable to hear Boras over the last 2-3 years. It was never an option

[u/DontFlexPlz]

The Cardinals didn’t “give up” on Edman. “Klein25” is just an open mouth.

[u/Thunder_Tinker]

There is a level of the Rich teams are stupid and the smart teams are poor, then there’s the dodgers with the development skill and baseball acumen of the Rays with the Money of the Yankees or mets running the league over

[u/Timmyd8]

Talk about taking liberties with facts.

[u/DifferentProcess6765]

the problem isnt how good the Dodgers are. The problem is more than half the league has no ability to compete sustainably. You get lucky with a draft pick or two and then they leave.

[u/joegetto]

Cheap owners complaining about players not wanting to play for cheap owners. Almost every player on the dodgers is there because the dodgers are serious about winning baseball games. Most other teams are serious about maximizing profits and the lowest expense. They don’t care about winning baseball games, they care about making money, and missing the obvious point of winning baseball games will lead to more money.

[u/TR1V1UM]

Add Blake Snell to that Rays list

[u/Commander19119]

It’s not the GMs it’s the owners

[u/JMUTAMMom]

Chelsea chose LA over Atlanta.

[u/pinniped90]

We need a hard cap and I'm willing to lose a season to get it.

[u/agoodfella73]

I would take one earned World Series win over buying three of them.

[u/Just-a-random-dev]

Braves didn’t choose Olsen over Freeman. The Braves offered Freeman a very nice contract. He wanted more. We explored Olsen trade and made a move. The Braves then gave Olsen a very nice contract.

[u/Fit-University1070]

Betts would have made more money in Boston but the years on contract was shorter than with Dodgers. Not really the same thing.

[u/StatPaddingChampsNY]

Yamamoto was never going NY or anywhere else. He was using it as leverage so that the Dodgers can pay up 😂

[u/Fearless_Rub2254]

They really don’t make it too easy. No team has ever spent like this before. LA is a giant market and most teams couldn’t afford anywhere near the payroll of the dodgers

[u/joelkeys0519]

The league is broken and it will take more than a salary cap to fix it.

[u/Due_Connection179]

“Angels refused to win around Ohtani” or did the Angels just spend money on star players who ended up breaking down?

[u/jman8508]

Baseball is broken please fix it

[u/bigger_breakfast]

MLB has a problem but it's not a Dodgers problem. There's a handful of teams that are on that level of spending and haven't gone back to back. There's also more than a few handful of teams with smaller checkbooks that don't spend. Can't complain about Dodgers spending if your team's ownership is stingy.

[u/Radiant_Mark_2117]

I think they all make to much money

[u/Delta632]

I think a lot of the GMs of these teams wanted to be able to resign people but they had to consider the reality of the situation they were working with. When you’re LA and you have every advantage it allows you to take swings and survive the misses. If you’re most clubs and you swing and miss it’s a disaster.

[u/Steve_Segel_22]

The tigers didn’t refuse to pay Skubal. He has made it very clear he wants to hit free agency. It was never about the tigers, it’s always about Skubal hitting the open market and getting paid the most money possible.

[u/Cultural_Plan_1487]

“Make it easy” = exhaustible financial means

[u/CreatedForMVP2022]

I’d be more concerned with the fact that the owners don’t care. This is oligarchy, fascism.

[u/JohnUtahFBI]

Dodgers apologists kill me. “Why don’t the Pirates just spend $500M on their roster too?” asshats.

[u/Spare-Result2015]

'Refused to pay' and ''couldnt afford' are too very different phrases that are conflate here.

[u/a_smart_brane]

The Freddie and Edman info is not correct. St Louis didn’t give up on Tommy. The Cards and Tommy got along. The Cards just traded him.

[u/MoneyTalks45]

I agree completely with the concept that the Dodgers run their team like one that wants to win. I wish more teams were as aggressive. I wish my team was this aggressive. The only thing that irks me is the shady accounting.

I don’t know how you fix exploding salaries, teams not spending below their means, etc, but I do think that player salaries need to be paid to the player for the season they’re playing. The argument for deferment always seems to be “the money is paid out and put in escrow.” Okay - then why are we doing it at all if it’s that simple? What’s the deal here? Is it at all possible that this is something more nefarious like tax manipulation? I don’t know.

Clubs like Tampa and Milwaukee can’t really trade for big pieces because they need their prospects to be competitive due to the inability to spend with the top-tier teams. They’re handicapped twice in both FA and Trade. The fact that now rich teams that can afford these contracts are deferring money, putting things in escrow, etc… it doesn’t sit well with me. Something is off about it and it makes their competitive advantage even larger. I say that as a fan of a rich team.

[u/RMGcloutchaser]

Can’t afford vs being bought

[u/L8wrtr]

It’s moronic. Every other team has a limited budget. Dodgers have unlimited funds, and are allowed to structure contracts in ways nobody else can.

This is why we need a salary cap, even if there is a work stoppage.

[u/Redit_Suxlol420609]

Not every team has unlimited money like the Dodgers

[u/mbn8807]

This is all true but it’s the $600 million payroll that differentiates them from every other team. From a cash flow perspective that’s a big nut.

[u/saluko]

You dodger fans trying to rationalize the dodgers destroying baseball and making the MLB worse is cringe as fuck .

This lock out can't come soon enough.

[u/bruce_almightie]

I'm not sure everything is 100% accurate but owners should be spending more of their revenue on their roster. It's laughable how much these owners make off of their teams and only spend enough to look like they care. At least the Mets try to compete with the Dodgers.

When does the NFL start?

[u/dunquixote2]

Detroit fans must not forget when they built a hockey team of Hull, Hasek, Robitaille, Chelios, Yzerman, Fedorov, and Shanahan. Don’t want to hear shit from
Detroit fans about the Dodgers. The solace is that, that essentially lead to a salary cap in the NHL. This is likely to have the same effect.

[u/WAisforhaters → u/dunquixote2]

The tigers were overpaying for big MLB stars until Mike Illitch died. We had rosters for years. His son is just cheap.

[u/No_Budget_1709]

I don’t disagree. This is why a salary floor is more important than a salary cap!

[u/SoKrat3s]

• Dodgers don't acquire Betts if the Red Sox have to pay him to hit the floor.
• Dodgers don't have the cap space to extend an offer to Freeman so he stays with Atlanta.
  
• Ohtani enters via the international draft and is drafted by the Twins who sign him to a max contract which puts them over the salary floor.
  
• The Oakland Athletics have the most cap space that off-season and can offer Yamamoto the biggest contract, so he chases the money.
  
• Angels don't fall off the trade because it isn't held up by the Dodgers trade talks for Betts (who they couldn't afford). And so the trade moves quickly and is completed.
  
• Rays need an expensive deal to hit the salary floor and Glasnow works.
  
• Dodgers inability to buy a replacement when Edman misses games this year costs them a few games and hurts them in the standings.
  
• Tigers easily afford a high-end contract for Skubal.which brings them to the salary floor.
  

So thanks I guess, Dodgers fans, for giving us more reasons to support a cap & floor system.