The Dodgers are the undisputed 900-pound gorilla in Major League Baseball, and it's creating a seismic shift in how the league operates and how fans perceive fairness. Back in 2012, a legal representative for Major League Baseball made a bold prediction in bankruptcy court: the league would soon be cleaved into two distinct groups – 'the Dodgers and the other 29 teams.' Many believe that prophecy is now a stark reality, especially for fans outside of the Los Angeles area.
Why the sudden shift? Well, the Dodgers are not just winning; they're dominating. They've achieved the remarkable feat of being back-to-back World Series champions, a feat not seen in a quarter-century. On top of that, they're set to rake in hundreds of millions of dollars annually from local television revenue, a stark contrast to other teams that might receive nothing. And let's not forget their roster, headlined by a player who is more than just a pitcher or designated hitter – he's a genuine tourist attraction, a marketing maestro, and a veritable cash machine. For loyal Dodgers fans, this is the dream scenario: a team that lavishly spends, consistently wins, and does so with unapologetic flair.
But here's where it gets controversial...
For many other baseball fans, this level of dominance isn't a cause for celebration; it's a source of deep frustration. Just last year, Commissioner Rob Manfred acknowledged widespread fan concern about their own teams' inability to compete. As MLB owners gather this week to potentially discuss a salary cap, I spoke with one owner whose team directly competes with the Dodgers in the National League West. He shared what he's hearing from his fanbase.
'I think all of us recognize that fans are not happy when they see their team not being able to be as competitive as they would like,' stated Arizona Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick. 'That is a widely known situation.' This sentiment is echoed in cities like Kansas City, Miami, and Pittsburgh, but it carries an even greater urgency in Arizona. The Diamondbacks haven't clinched a division title since 2011, the year before the Dodgers' current ownership group took the helm. For Arizona fans, the primary antagonist isn't the league's structure, even though Kendrick believes the Dodgers have masterfully navigated it rather than exploited it. No, for them, the enemy is simply the Dodgers.
'They are the 900-pound gorilla,' Kendrick declared. 'I think it’s obviously widely seen that way by everybody who has any interest in our sport. They are seen as that. I don’t mean that in a disrespectful way at all. They are playing by the rules.'
And this is the part most people miss...
If competitive balance is the true concern, one might wonder why the Diamondbacks don't simply aim to move out of the NL West to escape the Dodgers' shadow. Kendrick, however, dismisses this notion. 'You have to beat everybody to win it all,' he reasoned. 'It doesn’t really matter. There is a legitimate opportunity. The last time I looked seriously at it, I think my club beat them to go to the World Series. They are beatable.'
This statement is particularly striking given that in 2023, the Dodgers clinched the NL West by a commanding 16 games. However, in the postseason, it was the Diamondbacks who sent the Dodgers packing with a decisive three-game sweep. 'We’re in a competitive business,' Kendrick emphasized. 'I’m OK with competition. It’s all the better when you beat somebody who is more highly rated than you are.'
Consider this: the Diamondbacks made it to the playoffs in 2023 with 84 wins, a feat made possible by an expanded playoff system designed to foster competitive balance. They didn't need to match the Dodgers' spending spree, nor did they need to win the division. Their success was fueled by a timely surge in October, propelling them all the way to the World Series. So, can the Diamondbacks truly compete with the Dodgers, or is it a futile effort?
'We have competed against them,' Kendrick admitted. 'I think, on a regular-season basis — and I’m trying to be honest about the competitive atmosphere — they are a more competitive team than we are. That doesn’t mean we can’t end up playing for the championship, because we just did it.'
Meanwhile, the Dodgers continue to make headlines. They recently signed outfielder Kyle Tucker to a staggering four-year, $60 million per year deal, further bolstering a lineup already featuring stars like Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith. The Diamondbacks, while making an effort, are operating on a different financial plane. Last winter, they signed ace Corbin Burnes to a six-year, $35 million per year contract, only for him to undergo Tommy John surgery after just 11 starts. It's easy to say other owners should spend more, but can they realistically sign a player like Tucker to complement their starting lineup at that price point?
'I think they made a solid business decision, based on the rules that we have,' Kendrick commented on the Dodgers' moves. 'They have deferred a ton of that money down the road, so the economics are not as they might appear in the moment. It’s a very, very significant investment. He’s obviously earned his money.'
Interestingly, the Dodgers' financial might also benefits teams like the Diamondbacks. Of the Diamondbacks' seven largest home crowds last season, five were against the Dodgers. The average attendance for games involving the Dodgers in Arizona was 43,441, a significant jump from the 27,865 for games against other teams. Kendrick attributes this partly to proximity: 'It is L.A. It’s fairly close. We get a lot of L.A. people coming to our ballpark.' But when pressed, he conceded the broader appeal: 'When you’re a sports fan, you want to see the very best players. And they have many of them.'
This is precisely why Kendrick and his fellow owners are gathered: to explore ways, whether through a salary cap or other mechanisms, to level the playing field and prevent the Dodgers from accumulating so many of the game's elite talents.
What do you think? Is the Dodgers' dominance a sign of a healthy, competitive league, or does it threaten the integrity of the game for fans of other teams? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
