Money talks, but in this case, it might be shouting. The Dodgers have just handed Dave Roberts a contract that’s making waves—not just for its sheer amount, but for what it says about baseball’s managerial market. While some see it as a satisfactory number, others, including a former Marlins president, are having a field day mocking L.A.’s financial logic.

By now everybody knows that Dave Roberts has signed a deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers and will stay with the Dodgers until 2028. While fans are enjoying this news, ex-Marlins president, David Samson is trolling the Dodgers for their spending strategy.

In his YouTube video, David Samson clearly called out the Dodgers management for not giving Roberts the contract he deserves. He said, “Craig Counsell is at 8. Dave Roberts, the most successful who everyone calling for his head if they have an early playoff loss, having an unbelievable run with the Dodgers, and he got rewarded with a $32.4 million, 4-year deal. Yes, for those of you counting at home, that is $8.1 million.”

The Los Angeles Dodgers are now the gold standard of spending money. Now, when they give out a contract that comparatively falls short, fans begin to question it. And this time, it’s not just about the low numbers; it’s about the contract Dave Roberts actually deserved. When a manager who has not won a championship bags an $8 million contract, it sets high expectations in the market. After that, it’s only natural to expect a top manager who has won a World Series, to earn more than that.

But giving just $100,000 million more is a highly questionable move. Samson says that there is no way that Roberts would have turned down the contract and the Dodgers made use of this situation.

If Roberts deserved more, the Dodgers clearly didn’t get the memo—or maybe they just misplaced a decimal. While L.A. continues its free-spending ways elsewhere, their stinginess with a championship-winning manager raises eyebrows. In the end, Roberts stays, the Dodgers save face, and Samson gets his viral moment. Everyone wins—except, perhaps, common sense.

Dave Roberts gives us a peek at what the Dodgers will do to manage Ohtani

The Dodgers have a superstar among them who comes with a delicate dilemma. Dave Roberts isn’t just managing a team—he’s managing the most valuable two-way player in baseball history. With Shohei Ohtani recovering from surgery, L.A. has a plan. Whether it’s brilliant strategy or just cautious babysitting, Roberts is making sure everyone plays the long game.

The Dodgers are very cautious about Shohei Ohtani and his arm after his second Tommy John Surgery. The team is actively managing his pitching rehab and is avoiding rushing him. During a podcast with Foul Territory, Roberts said, “So the main thing is we get his rehab right. It’s his second Tommy John. We have complete trust with Shohei.”

Fans expect Ohtani to be back on the mound by mid-season but there’s still no exact return date announced. The team wants to have him fully healthy for the month of October and doesn’t wish to rush his return.

For now, patience is the name of the game, and the Dodgers are playing it. Just as an elite team should when protecting their most prized possession. Whether it’s long-term thinking or just a very expensive insurance policy, one thing is clear—Ohtani’s arm won’t see the mound until the Dodgers say so. And for L.A., October is the only deadline that matters.