Dodgers Keep Spending, Keep Winning - and Keep Raising Eyebrows Across MLB
If anyone thought the Los Angeles Dodgers were going to take their foot off the gas after winning back-to-back World Series titles, well, think again. This franchise isn’t just building a dynasty - they’re redefining what one looks like in the modern era of baseball.
Fresh off consecutive championships, the Dodgers went out and added two more marquee names to an already loaded roster: All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker and elite closer Edwin Díaz. Tucker, in particular, made waves by signing a four-year, $240 million deal - a staggering $60 million per year - choosing L.A. over big-market suitors like the Mets and Blue Jays.
That kind of money isn’t just eye-popping; it’s historic. And it signals, loud and clear, that the Dodgers are gunning for a three-peat.
But with great spending comes even greater scrutiny. Let’s take a closer look at just how deep the Dodgers’ pockets run in 2026 - and what it could mean for the future of the sport.
Dodgers’ 2026 Payroll: Big Numbers, Bigger Implications
On the surface, the Dodgers’ 2026 payroll sits at $249.3 million - a number that places them seventh in MLB, behind teams like the Phillies, Blue Jays, Braves, Mets, Astros, and Yankees. But that figure doesn’t tell the whole story, especially when you consider how heavily the Dodgers lean on deferred money.
Take Shohei Ohtani, for example. While his contract pays him $70 million annually, a jaw-dropping $68 million of that is deferred each year.
That means he’s only receiving $2 million in actual cash in 2026. It's a creative financial maneuver that allows the Dodgers to keep their cash payroll manageable while still stacking superstar talent.
But when it comes to the luxury tax - the real measure of how much a team is investing in its roster - the Dodgers are in a league of their own. Their luxury-tax payroll for 2026?
A staggering $413.6 million. That’s $96 million more than the next closest team.
With the tax threshold sitting at $244 million, the Dodgers are blowing past it like it’s a speed bump.
And they’re not just spending big now - they’ve committed to paying $1.08 billion in deferred money across their current contracts. That’s not a typo.
One-point-zero-eight billion. This is long-term, generational investment in winning.
Tucker’s Deal: Big Bat, Big Bucks, Minimal Deferrals
Kyle Tucker’s contract is another example of how the Dodgers are willing to pay top dollar for top-tier talent - and do it creatively. Only $30 million of his $240 million deal is deferred, meaning he’ll be taking home an average of $52.5 million in cash each season over the next four years.
For luxury-tax purposes, though, the league looks at the present-day value of that deal, which comes out to $57.18 million per year. That’s the number that counts against the Dodgers’ tax bill, and it’s a hefty one. But L.A. is betting that Tucker’s bat in the middle of their lineup is worth every penny, especially as they chase a third straight title.
Could the Dodgers’ Spending Trigger a 2027 Lockout?
Here’s where things get tricky. The current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between MLB and the players’ union expires after the 2026 season. And while labor tensions have been simmering for years, the Dodgers’ unprecedented spending spree is adding fuel to the fire.
There’s already talk around the league that owners may push hard for a salary cap in the next CBA - a move that would almost certainly be met with fierce resistance from the players. The union has long opposed any cap, arguing it would artificially suppress salaries and limit player earning potential.
And when one team is handing out $60 million per year to a player who might be their third or fourth-best on the roster? Well, it’s easy to see why smaller-market owners might feel like they can’t keep up - and why they might push for change.
But don’t expect the players to budge easily. The last CBA negotiation led to a three-month lockout, and the battle lines are already being drawn for the next one. If the Dodgers keep spending like this - and keep winning - the pressure on both sides to find common ground will only intensify.
Who’s Getting Paid in L.A.?
Let’s break down the Dodgers’ highest-paid players in 2026 - both in terms of actual cash and average annual value (AAV), which is what the luxury tax is based on.
Top Dodgers by 2026 Cash Salary:
- Kyle Tucker: $52.5 million
- Tyler Glasnow: $30 million
- Mookie Betts: $20 million
- Edwin Díaz: $18.5 million
- Freddie Freeman: $15 million
- Blake Snell: $12.8 million
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto: $12 million
- Blake Treinen: $11 million
But that list doesn’t quite capture the full picture. Thanks to deferred deals, some of the Dodgers’ biggest stars are making far more in terms of AAV.
Top Dodgers by Average Annual Value (AAV):
- Shohei Ohtani: $70 million
- Kyle Tucker: $60 million
- Blake Snell: $36.4 million
- Mookie Betts: $30.4 million
- Tyler Glasnow: $27.3 million
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto: $27.1 million
- Freddie Freeman: $27 million
- Edwin Díaz: $23 million
That’s nine players making at least $20 million per year by AAV - and that includes Teoscar Hernández, who doesn’t even crack the top eight in cash salary. It’s a roster built like an All-Star team, and it’s being paid like one too.
Where the Dodgers Stand Compared to the Rest of MLB
Here’s how the Dodgers stack up against the rest of the league in both cash payroll and luxury-tax payroll in 2026:
| Team | Cash Payroll | Luxury-Tax Payroll |
|---|
| Dodgers | $249.3M | $413.6M | | Mets | $263.1M | $317.0M |
| Blue Jays | $283.0M | $312.4M | | Phillies | $295.6M | $311.7M |
| Yankees | $252.1M | $292.3M | | Red Sox | $204.3M | $276.1M |
| Padres | $223.1M | $268.6M | | Braves | $270.3M | $266.8M |
| Cubs | $201.0M | $256.0M | | Astros | $260.6M | $248.6M |
The Dodgers are seventh in raw cash spending, but when it comes to the luxury tax - the real barometer of financial commitment - they’re nearly $100 million ahead of the field. No one else is even close.
Final Word: The Dodgers Are Playing a Different Game
What the Dodgers are doing isn’t just aggressive - it’s revolutionary. They’ve built a roster that resembles a fantasy draft more than a traditional MLB team, and they’ve done it by mastering the art of deferred contracts, luxury-tax management, and elite talent acquisition.
But with that dominance comes questions - about fairness, sustainability, and the future of the league’s financial structure. As the 2026 season approaches, the Dodgers are the team to beat. But they may also be the team that forces a reckoning in the next CBA.
For now, though, the message from L.A. is clear: If you want to win in this league, you better be ready to spend - and spend smart. Because the Dodgers aren’t slowing down anytime soon.