The Los Angeles Dodgers’ aggressive approach in free agency has led to calls for a salary cap, but several star players recently came out in support of the franchise.
Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper reiterated that he has no problem with the Dodgers’ spending and believes every team should be following their example.
San Diego Padres teammates Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. also made headlines when they praised their rival for making the best possible effort to win the World Series each season.
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes appreciates the support from other players, but said the team isn’t seeking anyone’s approval, via Katie Woo of The Athletic:
“We’re not looking externally for the validation. The validation is winning championships and putting out as good of teams as we can each and every year.”
Coming off back-to-back World Series titles, the Dodgers reinforced their roster by signing top free agents Kyle Tucker and Edwin Díaz to lucrative contracts during the offseason.
The Dodgers are now projected to have a luxury tax payroll of more than $400 million for the second consecutive season, but their recent success goes beyond just throwing money at elite players.
As Harper noted in his comments, the Dodgers draft and develop their talent as well as any organization. L.A. is also good at finding under-appreciated players and helping them turn their careers around.
All of those key qualities have put the Dodgers in a position to become the first team to win three consecutive World Series titles since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees.
Dodgers’ spending at center of CBA talks
The Dodgers’ aggressive spending will undoubtedly be at the center of collective bargaining agreement (CBA) talks between MLB and the Players Association this spring.
When negotiations begin, the union will be led by interim executive director Bruce Meyer, who replaced Tony Clark after he resigned amid multiple scandals.
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