There is a transformation happening in the MLB, one that is catching more than just fans’ attention. A new period is taking shape, and it is not your Cinderella team rising to the top. Instead, it is related to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ capability to manage its dominance year after year. This is not just related to having the right stars; it is related to a financial approach that has everyone looking over their shoulders. While MLB has seen its share of big spenders, the Dodgers in question are making moves that could be far more effective than anyone assumed.

What happens when a team not only spends freely but makes it work in a way that challenges the very structure of MLB? It is time to analyze the enhancing issues of a specific MLB commissioner, who has currently warned that the path the Dodgers are on could be worse compared to the infamous Yankees under George Steinbrenner.

For decades, Steinbrenner’s manipulative spending enabled the Yankees to dominate MLB. However, fast forward to the current period, the Dodgers have been operating with a top-tier payroll ever since the Guggenheim group took over in 2012. However, there is something distinctive related to how the team is approaching it now.

Rob Manfred opened his mouth and compared the Dodgers’ spending approach to the old Yankees and said: “whatever they spend, they are probably more profitable on a percentage basis than the old Yankees were”.

It is not that the Dodgers’ approach is anything new—they have been running with a full-handed payroll in MLB for years. However, unlike George Steinbrenner’s Yankees, who at times identified themselves as financially stretched, the Dodgers have figured out how to balance big spending with profitability. For instance, in 2024, the team ranked near the top of MLB’s payroll list, yet their business approach has remained robust, enabling the team to invest in stars without jeopardizing their financial future.

So, why does this matter? Because they continue to shake up postseason appearances. Small-market teams can just dream of carrying the same resources and MLB’s structure adopts such disparities to grow wider. That is the danger Rob Manfred is concerned about: a system that could quickly leave some teams in the dust.

To drive the point home, take the data that while old Yankees spent largely, they faced vital financial issues along the way, specifically, in the 1980s when the team struggled to sustain that level of spending.

Old Yankees vs current Dodgers: The good ripple effect

With the Dodgers dominating headlines and reshaping the financial aspect, other teams are being forced to adjust, either by enhancing their investments or by identifying new ways to compete. Such a ripple effect is guiding a more competitive MLB, with big-market teams enhancing the stakes for smaller-market teams, which in turn enhances the overall talent pool.

For instance, take the Jays. The Dodgers have captured all the headlines in 2025 after signing Sasaki. The team also has spent large on Ohtani and Yamamoto. However, Guerrero Jr.’s $500 million deal with the Jays was a stunner.

Beyond domestic competition, the Dodgers’ spending has undeniably enhanced the international profile of MLB. Global viewership numbers, specifically from places like Asia, have surged effectively. Such an exposure is invaluable for MLB, as it extends the sport’s footprint worldwide, attracting new fans and establishing new scopes for merchandising and sponsorship deals.

While the Dodgers’ spending could be polarizing, it undeniably enhances MLB, pushes the competitive boundaries and elevates MLB’s global availability. Instead of seeing it as an issue, baseball fans need to embrace this transformation because the team’s financial commitment is establishing a new bar that is pushing all of baseball forward.