The Los Angeles Dodgers are at it again—flexing their financial muscle and showing the baseball world that they’re all-in on chasing another championship. Their latest power move? Locking down 2024 All-Star reliever Tanner Scott on a hefty four-year, $72 million deal. This blockbuster signing pushes the Dodgers’ luxury tax payroll soaring past a jaw-dropping $375 million. 

In comparison, their nearest rival, the Philadelphia Phillies, have a “modest” $308 million, which is about $70 million more than that. And did you know the New York Yankees are the only other team with the audacity to join the $300 million club? The Dodgers aren’t simply aiming to win; they’re playing to dominate thanks to their wealthy and talented roster. 

Are the Dodgers doing exactly what the Yankees did? Not exactly  

A recent X post came up with a little history lesson for all the critics calling out the Dodgers’ wild spending spree, with a flashback to 2005—exactly two decades ago. “In 2005 – exactly two decades ago – the Yankees payroll was $85M higher than the next-highest team (Red Sox) and was more than double the 3rd-highest payroll (Mets).” So, in other words, the Dodgers may be spending big now, but they’re hardly breaking new ground; they’re just following a blueprint the Yankees perfected years ago—except this time, it’s happening under the California sunshine instead of the Bronx lights.

However, there is a snag in the proceedings. The majority of the Dodgers’ players are bound by deferred money contracts. With Shohei Ohtani leading the group with $680 million, Mookie Betts with $115 million, Blake Snell with $66 million, and Freddie Freeman with $57 million, the team currently has an incredible $1.375 billion in deferred money on its books.

Significant sections of the contracts of other important players, such as Tanner Scott ($21 million), Teoscar Hernández ($23.5 million), Tommy Edman ($25 million), and Will Smith ($50 million), have also been pushed back. With this “buy now, pay later” strategy, the Dodgers can stretch their financial muscles to stay ahead of the competition while controlling their luxury tax burden. 

The latest player to join the deferred club in the team  

Fresh off their headline-grabbing signing of prized Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki, the Dodgers wasted no time in making another major splash to bolster their pitching staff. On Sunday, they agreed to a four-year, $72 million deal with left-handed reliever Tanner Scott, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. While the team has yet to officially confirm the signing, the details are already making waves. 

The contract reportedly includes a $20 million signing bonus and $21 million in deferred salary, showcasing the Dodgers’ continued commitment to adding top-tier talent while creatively managing their financial flexibility. The addition of Tanner Scott to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ already potent bullpen changes the game by giving them a back-end relief ace. The Dodgers’ relief corps appears to be as formidable as ever, with right-hander Blake Treinen already having re-signed and important arms like Michael Kopech, Alex Vesia, and Brusdar Graterol expected to return. 

The team’s 2024 World Series victory was greatly aided by this bullpen, and it could be even better in 2025 with Scott. But Los Angeles doesn’t stop there. The Dodgers have added a number of well-known players to their squad, as they have been on a roll since winning the World Series. Along with Scott, they have also added slugger Michael Conforto, infielder Hyeseong Kim, veteran pitcher Blake Snell, and Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki. Additionally, well-known individuals like Tommy Edman, Teoscar Hernández, and Treinen have also returned.