![\"Spotrac](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/01kf3jeyw0dd5vt41k2n.png\" "\\"Spotrac")
<\/p>\nThe Dodgers made another splash in free agency on Thursday as they convinced Kyle Tucker to sign a four-year, $240 million contract. Tucker, a 27-year old, four-time All-Star who has won Silver Slugger and Gold Glove awards during his career, is now the second highest paid player in baseball on a per-year basis, behind only his new teammate Shohei Ohtani. <\/p>\n
Los Angeles\u2019s latest signing quickly inspired eye rolls and calls for a salary cap because they just won back-to-back World Series and then immediately out-spent everyone again. You can understand why fans might be annoyed.<\/p>\n
But instead of complaining, you should appreciate greatness. No other sports team in the world is currently as great as the Dodgers at spending money. In the words of Ron Burgundy, just be impressed with the sheer amount of cheese. <\/p>\n
The numbers are staggering and it’s actually funny when you do a little math to try and understand just how silly this situation is. <\/p>\n
7+1=8<\/p>\n
Eight. That\u2019s how many players Los Angeles has signed to deals worth more than $100 million. In addition to Tucker and Ohtani you\u2019ve got Mookie Betts, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith and Tyler Glasnow on huge deals.<\/p>\n
13+1=14<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the number of players on the Dodgers who will make over $10 million this season. That includes all the players mentioned above plus Edwin D\u00edaz, Teoscar Hern\u00e1ndez, Tanner Scott, Tommy Edman, Blake Treinen and Max Muncy. <\/p>\n
The Marlins, Guardians, Rays, Athletics, White Sox and Pirates have 11 combined. <\/p>\n
403 = Forbidden<\/p>\n
That’s the number you may see when you try to visit Spotrac today because so many people are looking up Los Angeles\u2019s payroll. <\/p>\n
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Footage not found. | spotrac.com<\/p>\n
413 > 317<\/p>\n
The Dodgers projected payroll for the 2026 season is currently $413,597,413 after the Tucker signing. The next highest salaried team in baseball, the Mets, who missed out on Tucker, trail them by nearly $100 million with a projected payroll of $317,018,064. <\/p>\n
New York, the Blue Jays and Phillies are the only other teams with payrolls over $300 million. For any of those teams to get close to Los Angeles\u2019s payroll, they\u2019d have to add the entire Marlins roster, which is set to make $100,146,666 this season. <\/p>\n
Tax season is approaching<\/p>\n
The Dodgers\u2019 current estimated tax bill for next season is over $161 million<\/a>. Twelve teams\u2014the Marlins, Rays, Guardians, White Sox, Twins, Pirates, Nationals, Cardinals, Rockies, Athletics, Reds and Brewers\u2014all currently have payrolls of less than what Los Angeles will be paying in luxury tax next season.<\/p>\n And while that may seem like a steep tax bill, it’s still less than the $201 million the Mets, Blue Jays, Phillies, Yankees, Red Sox, Padres, Braves, Cubs and Astros will pay … combined. No other team has to pay the luxury tax.<\/p>\n 7-1<\/p>\n That was the Dodgers combined record in the National League Division Series and National League Championship Series as they beat the Phillies and Brewers to reach their second consecutive World Series. <\/p>\n Philadelphia, which won a single game, is projected to have a $311 million payroll this season. Milwaukee, which was swept, is on the hook for just $155 million this season. <\/p>\n Defer, defer, defer<\/p>\n The Dodgers have more than two billion dollars on the books, inlcuding more than a billion in defered money. Shohei Ohtani will be on the books through 2043. Edwin D\u00edaz, the closer they just poached from the Mets, has deferred money through \u201847. <\/p>\n (for clarity, this includes combined salary owed from 2026-2047)<\/p>\n \u2014 Spotrac (@spotrac) January 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Los Angeles is going to be paying Edwin D\u00edaz in 2047<\/a>. There will be guys on that same payroll who are not yet born. Three franchises\u2014the Marlins, Rays and Twins\u2014have clean books as soon as 2029<\/a>.<\/p>\n More MLB on Sports Illustrated