The Dodgers’ signing spree this year has left everyone in awe! They landed most of the big names available this offseason, drawing ire from rival teams’ fans. Now, the financial strength of the Los Angeles Dodgers is indeed second to none, and that helps them in offering compelling deals to the players. But are they all about just money, and are the players only joining for the finances there? 

Dodgers’ GM Brandon Gomes got a different take on what the fans are assuming, emphasizing why funds are not everything and cannot guarantee success and what it takes for the team to land a star-studded crew. Quite unpopular it may sound, but the Dodgers did their homework compared to their rivals before this offseason. Moreover, the insights shared by their GM can be a way forward for other teams about how proper planning can help in getting the right talents. 

The Dodgers are flexing their financial muscle

The Dodgers’ ownership is one of the richest among their peers, worth more than $400 billion, and that is reflected in their spending spree. The team ended 2023 with $1.1 billion worth of spending and already got over $300 million in the first month of 2025. This is something outrageous, to say the least, but then, why are the owners spending such an amount without any certainty of profit? Here comes the major strength of the Dodgers: their fanbase! 

Los Angeles is divided between the Dodgers and the Angels, but still, it has not restricted the former from offering the most attendees among all the teams since 2013. They still draw the highest attendance among all the 29 teams in MLB, which helped them secure an $8.35 billion TV deal for 25 years. This is something the LA team is leveraging successfully, and while there are teams like the Cubs who are scaling back their investments and looking to break even yearly, the Dodgers are going full throttle based on their well-penetrated fanbases. 

“Our goal is to make a team that can go beyond July and not just have big names,” Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes noted, pointing out the importance of having enough backend support to survive the long and grueling MLB season. The Dodgers are infamous for player injuries, especially their pitchers, and they need to ensure proper alternatives during high-leverage situations. One such strategic instance is Roki Sasaki’s signing with the Dodgers, irrespective of having a few named pitchers on the team—this deal can now ensure that Sasaki might take the lead if members like Shohei Ohtani face any injury.

It’s all not about funds

While the Los Angeles Dodgers got each of their stars offering an outrageous amount, most of their buys are strategic and involve competitive payroll. For the unversed, Tanner Scott landed with the Dodgers for four years worth $72 million, which is a bargain but still no other teams went for him. Reacting to the same, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal once shared that it is the fault of other teams to not pick the talents at the right time and let the Dodgers do the business. 

Additionally, the Dodgers’ farm system is something for envy by their rivals, which ensures their supply chain to the major league. Upon joining the Dodgers, Sasaki shared how this team is important for him for his future development, pointing out how rookies are groomed at the Dodgers. “Fund doesn’t guarantee anything,” Brandon further emphasized, which is quite rational considering how his team has been ensuring an effective rotation throughout the long MLB season. 

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