The Los Angeles Dodgers aren’t just spending big this offseason - they’re redefining what it means to go all-in. With the additions of outfielder Kyle Tucker and closer Edwin Díaz, L.A. has added over $80 million in annual salary to its already loaded payroll. And while the numbers are eye-popping, they’re also a loud, clear message to the rest of Major League Baseball: the Dodgers aren’t just trying to stay on top - they’re trying to build something historic.
Let’s start with the headline move: Kyle Tucker. The Dodgers landed the All-Star slugger on a four-year, $240 million deal, with slight deferrals bringing the luxury tax average annual value to a staggering $57.1 million.
That’s the highest AAV on the team - and it’s not even close. For context, that figure alone is more than the total payrolls of some entire MLB rosters.
The Dodgers are now sitting on $2.11 billion in guaranteed salary commitments, including deferred payments. That’s not a typo.
Billion, with a B.
To put it another way: you’d have to multiply the Miami Marlins’ total AAV by seven just to get in the same ballpark - and even then, you’d still be $9 million short. That’s the kind of financial gap we’re talking about.
It’s a jaw-dropping disparity, but the Dodgers aren’t breaking any rules. They just have the money, and more importantly, they’re not afraid to use it.
But spending at this level comes at a cost - literally. By blowing past the final Competitive Balance Tax threshold of $304 million, the Dodgers are now subject to a 110% tax on every dollar over that line.
That means Tucker’s $57.1 million AAV will effectively cost the team about $120 million in 2026 alone. Yes, you read that right.
Kyle Tucker is going to cost the Dodgers $120 million next season. That’s not just aggressive spending - that’s a financial blitz.
And that move had ripple effects across the league. The New York Mets, widely seen as the frontrunner to land Tucker, reportedly offered him $220 million over four years with no deferrals.
But when the Dodgers swooped in with a bigger, bolder deal, the Mets were forced to pivot - and pivot fast. Their response?
A $126 million contract for Bo Bichette, complete with opt-outs after each of the first two years. That’s a major shift in direction, and one that speaks volumes about the kind of leverage the Dodgers now wield in the market.
There’s also a bit of poetic timing here. By signing Tucker, the Dodgers didn’t just block the Mets - they also pulled the rug out from under their most recent World Series opponent, who just lost their marquee free agent. That’s a two-for-one win, and it only adds to the impact of the move.
What stands out most about all of this isn’t just the size of the contracts or the tax penalties - it’s the mindset. Most teams would be content after winning back-to-back championships.
They’d take a breath, maybe make a few tweaks, and hope the core holds. But not the Dodgers.
With Shohei Ohtani now anchoring the heart of their lineup and the competitive window wide open, they’re pushing the pedal even harder.
This is what building a dynasty looks like in the modern game: bold, relentless, and unapologetically expensive. The Dodgers aren’t just trying to win - they’re trying to dominate. And if the rest of the league wasn’t already on notice, they certainly are now.