Dodgers’ Spending Spree Fuels MLB Labor Concerns as Lockout Looms
As the Los Angeles Dodgers’ financial commitments continue to climb – surpassing $1 billion in deferred payments this offseason – the team is increasingly at the center of a growing debate over MLB spending and the potential for a future lockout. With a projected $353 million payroll for 2026, nearly $60 million ahead of the New York Mets, and a staggering $328 million already slated for 2027, the Dodgers’ financial power is raising questions about competitive balance and the long-term health of the league.
The escalating payroll figures come as Major League Baseball appears to be heading toward an almost inevitable labor dispute after the 2026 season. The current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire, and fundamental disagreements over financial structures threaten to derail the 2027 season.
Some teams previously known for austerity measures, like the Pittsburgh Pirates and Oakland A’s, have begun to increase spending, leading some observers to believe they are attempting to preempt a potential salary floor. However, a comprehensive conversation about MLB’s economic system is widely anticipated.
While Dodgers leadership has largely remained silent on the issue, acknowledging only their financial capacity, manager Dave Roberts sparked controversy by publicly supporting the idea of a salary cap, a position that reportedly caused friction with players.
Retired Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw offered a blunt assessment of the situation during an appearance on Rob Lowe’s podcast. “I don’t understand some of the ownerships’ arguments with this stuff,” Kershaw stated. “Because there’s probably hundreds of multi-billionaires that would love to own a professional baseball team. It might not make the money you would want it to make, but over time it’s just like a stock. It’s going to continue to appreciate.” He further emphasized the increasing value of franchises, noting the Dodgers are now worth three times what they were previously, questioning the rationale behind owners’ reluctance to invest.
Kershaw’s comments reflect a broader understanding of the impact of spending on team performance. During his tenure with the Dodgers, the team’s payroll has consistently ranked among the league’s highest. The lowest the Dodgers fell in payroll ranking since Kershaw’s debut was 12th, between 2010 and 2012 – a period that coincided with a significant decline in on-field success, including finishes of fourth and third in the NL West in 2010 and 2011, respectively.
The core of the issue, according to many, is simple: owner profitability. Reports indicate that teams like the Pirates, despite being historically underperforming, are remarkably profitable, with little of that revenue reinvested into the team. As one source noted, the current system incentivizes owners to prioritize the prestige of ownership over the development of competitive rosters.
Ultimately, the debate boils down to a fundamental question: are MLB owners prioritizing the long-term health of the game, or simply maximizing their personal profits? Every MLB owner possesses the financial means to invest more in their teams, but a prevailing reluctance to do so continues to fuel the growing discontent and raises the specter of a disruptive lockout.
