The Hollywood sluggers have reached the Fall Classic for the fifth time in nine seasons, extending their remarkable streak of 13 consecutive postseason appearances. And when they clinched the NLCS, Manager Dave Roberts quipped that they were out to “ruin baseball”— just four wins away from the ring. Since then, the “Dodgers ruining baseball” narrative has gained traction. But why? The Dodgers are known for signing hefty contracts, and that shadow of spending has followed them all season. Now, experts — and data — have stepped in, and the narrative may shift.

The numbers tell an interesting story. They currently sit second on MLB’s 2025 payroll rankings at approximately $321M. Andrew Friedman and the front office have never been afraid to sign big-name players like Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Be

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