Dodgers ruining the baseball story is a perception problem: insider

The Los Angeles Dodgers have had baseball fans groaning and grumbling all offseason, as the narrative that the organization is ruining baseball continued this winter.

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According to CBS Sports’ Matt SnyderThe biggest problem in Major League Baseball is how fans perceive the Dodgers’ spending. While money isn’t an issue for LA, Snyder argues that the Dodgers’ success isn’t guaranteed solely because of their massive payroll.

“The Dodgers won 93 games in the regular season last year. They might have lost to the Phillies in the NLDS if Orion Kerkering had made a quicker decision in Game 4 of that series. The Blue Jays had them on the ropes multiple times in the World Series and if closer Jeff Hoffman just doesn’t allow an unfortunate home run to Miguel Rojas, the Dodgers wouldn’t be champions. Game 7 really could have gone either way multiple times,” Snyder writes.

“The Dodgers, of course, are champions. It was a well-deserved title. I’m not saying they didn’t deserve it. They were great in the playoffs. I just don’t understand the mantle of invincibility that so many give them. I know when fans get tired of teams winning titles, the drama piles up, but the 2025 Dodgers were not the 1998 Yankees with 114 wins and a win.” 11-2 record in the playoffs, including a sweep in the World Series. Nor were they the Red Sox of 2018 with 108 wins and an 11-3 playoff record.

What is the real problem with the MLB, if not the Dodgers’ excessive spending?

The real problem with MLB isn’t the Dodgers, the problem is with other teams and their owners. A prime example of what really screws up baseball was the Milwaukee Brewers trading away their ace, Freddy Peralta, after winning 97 regular season games last season.

While dealing Peralta makes sense as he is a year away from free agency, you can’t say Milwaukee is any better by trading the All-Star pitcher.

The team with the best record in baseball in 2025 has dealt their ace this winter, which certainly doesn’t bode well for their chances of winning a World Series this season.

How can a team compete against the Dodgers if the owners don’t invest in putting out the very best product? LA remains diligent in building a championship roster, but can other teams say the same?

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