Sports
Green with envy: MLB's big spenders in their own subdivision
Aug 23, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) smiles to fans as he leaves the field after hitting a walk-off grand slam home run, his 40th of the season, in the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodger Stadium. Watson. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Dodgers famously play in the National League West, with the New York Mets in the NL East.
The distance between Dodger Stadium and Citi Field is about 2,500 miles, which is not as far as Shohei Ohtani hitting a home run toward the east for the Dodgers, or Juan Soto hitting one west for the Mets, it just feels that way sometimes.
Things get a lot cozier between last season’s National League Championship Series participants within the context of team payrolls. They’re practically next-door neighbors when it comes to how much they spend to win. And it’s a gated community containing only two massive compounds.
The Dodgers and Mets are the only clubs in a 30-team league that have allocated at least $300 million for payroll in 2025, per Cot’s Contracts at Baseball Prospectus.
In close proximity to the Dodgers and Mets live the New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays, who are set to spend north of $241 million, which would trigger the Competitive Balance Tax. All are among a group of teams that have earmarked at least $200 million to spend on payroll, also including the Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels.
To many, this is the beginning and the end of a conversation about who can win the World Series. But is it really? Dodgers team president Andrew Friedman attempted to offer some nuance here.
With the Dodgers on the verge of winning the World Series this past fall, Friedman asserted it would be facile to say players’ salaries are the end all in order to beat all. The Dodgers spent about $40 million less on payroll than the Yankees and nearly $63 million less than the Mets, according to Cot’s Contracts.
“Payrolls don’t decide the standings,” Friedman said. “Seedings going into the playoffs don’t decide who wins the World Series. We’ve seen a lot of teams spend money and not do it well.”
Yet, the teams most likely to win the World Series in 2025 are the ones who will spend the most.
Taking a cursory look at payrolls as reported at Spotrac, almost any number of teams outside of the top 10 in spending could reach the World Series. It’s easier to count the teams that probably have no chance: the Angels, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago White Sox, Miami Marlins, Colorado Rockies, and the Washington Nationals likely will be home come October. Everything else is up for grabs.
Spending on payroll can correlate to reaching the postseason in a given season, but there always are exceptions. Look no further than the 2024 playoff field that included the Padres (14th), Kansas City Royals (20th), Milwaukee Brewers (21st), Baltimore Orioles (22nd), Cleveland Guardians (24th) and Detroit Tigers (26th).
In 2023, five teams ranked 19th or lower in payroll made the playoffs.
There are efficient spenders to envy over the past decade. The 2017 Astros were 17th in payroll and won the World Series. The Royals won it all in 2015 and were 13th in payroll.
After the 2023 season, Tigers general manager Scott Harris echoed Friedman’s assertion about what spending can do — and cannot — at least for his own team.
“The path to contention involves stacking as many good baseball decisions as we possibly can,” Harris said. “The quicker we can do that, the quicker we’re going to be an annual contender in this division.
“When I think about (making additions) in the offseason, I see there’s no shortcuts to contention. When I think about what we can do as an organization, we can spend to compliment a core; we can’t spend to build a core.”
It is unquestionably true that the Dodgers spend more money across the board than any other team, though not all of it goes to payroll. Friedman stressed that player development is what builds their foundation.
Enormous resources allow the Dodgers to land the big fish in free agency, but player development allows them the depth to add other front-line players. It’s how they acquired Mookie Betts in a trade from the Boston Red Sox.
Big names and bigger money don’t always equal big success. The Angels make the playoffs exactly zero times with Mike Trout and Ohtani on the roster.
When’s the last time the Yankees held a parade through the Canyon of Heroes? The Mets have been storing ticker tape for decades, even though owner Steve Cohen has made it a point to lead the league in payroll for three seasons, going on four. He spends, and the Mets contend, but he would prefer a more holistic approach.
“I’ve always wanted to be more measured in payroll growth,” Cohen told reporters at spring training. “I never get there. It’s never quite there. I have the ability to spend if I have to. And I want to win and I want to put the best team I can on the field. But free agency’s expensive. It’s just the way it is, and it’s always more expensive than you can imagine.”
The Dodgers might spend more money than most teams do on expensive free agents, but they also act like they don’t want to. Ohtani’s huge contract (10 years and $700 million) is actually much less costly in the present because of deferrals Ohtani insisted upon.
One of the reasons Ohtani took deferrals is because of the foundation that Friedman built that isn’t only free agents. It’s a set of conditions that really only the Dodgers can offer. The Minnesota Twins couldn’t pay Ohtani $700 million deferred, not because they don’t have the money, but because they don’t have everything else Ohtani would need to fulfill such an offer.
“(Ohtani) talked about how much he wants to win, and I think we all jive very well on that point,” Friedman said. “So when he presented that structure, it was, ‘Hey, would this allow you guys to be more aggressive?’ Yeah, definitely. So it did.”
Being heavy spenders in payroll and other expenditures has allowed the Dodgers to win 11 NL West titles in 12 years. But the 2024 championship was their second World Series win since 1988, and first in that span in a full season.
The last time the MLB team that spent the most on payroll and also won the World Series came in 2020 with the Dodgers — albeit with salaries slashed because of the shortened COVID-19 pandemic season.
The Red Sox in 2018 are the most recent team that spent the most and won it all in a full season, per data at Spotrac. The Yankees won the Series in 2009 as the biggest spenders. It’s their only championship since 2000. They’ve also cut back on payroll spending.
So while a big payroll correlates to winning games, the largest bank account is not necessarily the start of a direct path to the largest trophy case.
–By David Brown, Field Level Media
Sports
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Oct 1, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) and New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) during game two of the 2024 WNBA Semi-finals at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images LAS VEGAS — Entering her eighth season in the WNBA, Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson is poised to build on what was arguably the most dominant individual campaign in league history.
Wilson joined Cynthia Cooper (1997) as the second player in league history to win a unanimous MVP award and joined an exclusive club as the fourth player to win the award three times. She averaged 26.9 points and 11.9 rebounds per game last season and set the all-time single-season mark for points (1,021) and rebounds (451).
Unfortunately for Las Vegas, injuries and fatigue from their two previous championship runs mounted and resulted in the team’s worst regular-season record (27-13) since 2019. The Aces’ three-peat hopes ended with a 76-62 home loss to the New York Liberty to drop their semifinal series 3-1.
It’s that loss on her home floor that served as Wilson’s motivation this offseason.
“Losing sucks, especially on your home court,” Wilson said “It still kind of burns a little bit, but I’ve used that as fuel to help my teammates understand how hard it is to win in this league. Yes, we can celebrate the two championships. They were great. But for us to move forward, we have to understand how hard this league is and value the basketball and the little things. I think that’s what we lacked last season, so we’re going to make sure that we can show up better than we did.”
While the Aces appeared to be on top of the world heading into their potential three-peat campaign in 2024, the reality inside the locker room was that both the internal and external pressure to win another championship had become suffocating. A common theme across media day was the fact that the team feels less pressure entering the 2025 season, a sentiment Wilson shared as the unquestioned leader of the team.
“(Three-peat talks) obviously impacted us, because it’s like, y’all think we don’t want to win? We’re trying as well,” Wilson said.
“I would definitely say it’s refreshing this year. I feel like this is one of my only years where it feels like there’s no weight. There’s a lot of weight to be defending champs. It’s a lot of weight to be trying to win one. We don’t have that. We actually have a clean slate to really dial into getting back to who we are culturally, like, in our system and everything.”
Leading the Aces back to the top of the mountain for a third time in four years is one of a few historically significant achievements Wilson can collect this upcoming season. Wilson could also become the first four-time MVP in league history, though the meaning of that is something she hasn’t quite allowed herself to ponder yet.
“I haven’t given it much thought, but it would be a blessing to have my name in that conversation,” Wilson said. “Every year, I try to be better than I was the year before just to give myself a chance in this league. Because the league is getting better. We’re growing. At this point, you just want to maintain your stamina. You want to maintain your mental, all of that, because the season gets hard. I can’t think too much about that just yet, but I’m definitely going to try to be better than I was last year.”
As Aces coach Becky Hammon put it, fans can expect to see an even better version of Wilson this season.
“What I see is, she went and got better,” Hammon said. “Which is hard to do when you’re already the best, but it speaks to her work ethic, her desire and her mindset this whole offseason. We talked a lot this offseason. She’s a busy lady, but I can tell you what she always does is her workouts. She’s always getting her workouts in. That comes first and foremost, she never gets her priorities jumbled up.”
When Hammon was asked what a player like Wilson would possibly need to improve after last season’s campaign, the coach did not feel like revealing too much.
“There was (something for Wilson to improve), and she did,” Hammon said. “I’m not going to tell you what it was. Actually, there were two things.”
–Will Despart, Field Level Media
Sports
Jacob Wilson joins Aaron Judge in spotlight for Yankees-A's series
May 5, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson (5) throws to first for an out against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images The top two hitters in the majors square off Friday night when the New York Yankees face the Athletics in the opener of a three-game series in Sacramento, Calif.
It’s no surprise to see Yankees star Aaron Judge off to a superb start after winning American League MVP honors last season. He has a major league-best .400 batting average and entered Thursday’s play tied for the big-league lead with 12 homers and 34 RBIs.
But who had Athletics rookie Jacob Wilson ranking second in the majors at .357 as the season nears the quarter pole? Wilson has played in just 64 career games and quickly has solidified himself as a future All-Star, perhaps even this season.
Sharing the marquee board with Judge seems quite surreal for the 23-year-old shortstop who was the No. 6 overall pick of the 2023 draft.
“It’s a great feeling, for sure,” Wilson said of his name being mentioned with Judge. “Obviously, everybody has seen what he is doing. It’s pretty incredible watching him do his thing on a daily basis. To be up there with him is pretty cool for me.
“I’m excited to play against him this week and see what it looks like in person.”
Wilson had his first career four-hit game during Wednesday’s 6-5 home loss against the Seattle Mariners and has six multi-hit outings in the past eight games. He went 8-for-14 with one game-winning hit in the three-game series against the Mariners and is 16-for-34 (.471) with four walks during the eight-game stretch.
The hot hitting led to Athletics manager Mark Kotsay moving Wilson to the leadoff spot on Wednesday. Kotsay indicated Wilson may be sticking at the top of the lineup.
“I think you’ll see Jacob up there now,” Kotsay said. “Jacob’s earned it. … Jacob has shown enough over the last week. He’s walking and taking pitches, and, obviously, swinging the bat really well.”
Judge arrives in Sacramento in the midst of a four-game funk in which he is 2-for-15.
The two-time MVP just went 1-for-10 in a three-game home series against the San Diego Padres, but the one hit was a homer.
Judge grew up 50 miles south of Sacramento in Linden and starred for Linden High but wasn’t highly sought by major league teams. The then-Oakland Athletics selected him in the 31st round in 2010.
Judge instead went the college route and starred for Fresno State. He was chosen in the first round (32nd overall) by the Yankees in the 2013 draft.
Trent Grisham was one of the heroes of Wednesday’s 4-3, 10-inning win over the Padres. He hit a tying two-run pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning.
Grisham had two homers and five RBIs in the series against the Padres — one of his former teams — and already has 10 long balls in just 89 at-bats. He hit just nine last season in 179 at-bats.
“I’m having fun with the guys, I would say that more than anything,” Grisham said. “The clubhouse is really good in here, led by Cap (Judge). So, I would say the guys have been the most enjoyable part.”
New York is starting right-hander Will Warren (1-2, 5.65 ERA) in Friday’s series opener. Right-hander Osvaldo Bido (2-2, 4.71) will be on the mound for the Athletics.
Warren, 25, struck out a career-high eight in 4 2/3 innings while losing to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. He gave up five runs (three earned) and seven hits. Warren hasn’t previously faced the Athletics.
Bido, 29, received a no-decision against the Miami Marlins last Saturday when he gave up four runs on three hits over five innings. He is winless (0-1) over his last three starts. Bido hasn’t faced the Yankees.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao coming out of retirement
Aug 21, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada; Manny Pacquiao (right) fights Yordenis Ugas in a world welterweight championship bout at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao plans to end his retirement and return to the ring on July 19 against Mario Barrios in Las Vegas, ESPN reported Thursday.
Pacquiao, 46, will be fighting for the first time since losing a unanimous decision to Yordenis Ugas in 2021.
The fight will be for Barrios’ WBC welterweight championship belt. Barrios turns 30 on May 18.
Pacquiao is an eight-division champion who is slated to be inducted into the boxing Hall of Fame in June. He reportedly will formally announce his return to boxing next week. The report stated that Pacquiao has been cleared to compete by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
In recent years, Pacquiao has been focusing on his political career in the Philippines.
The boxer nicknamed “PacMan” has a 62-8-2 record with 39 knockouts during his career. He won his first major title — the WBC flyweight crown — at age 19 in 1998.
Pacquiao was 54-3-2 prior to turning 33 and 8-5 afterward. One of those losses was to Floyd Mayweather Jr. via unanimous decision in 2015, a bout that reportedly drew nearly $400 million in pay-per-view sales.
Barrios (29-2-1, 18 knockouts) fought to a 12-round, split-decision draw against Abel Ramos last November. This will be his third defense since winning the title by beating Ugas in 2023.
–Field Level Media
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
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