The Los Angeles Dodgers’ spending spree has become a yearly debate. Small-market fans rage as their teams fight to compete while the Dodgers stack stars, like, it is a video game. However, Stephen A. Smith provides a distinctive approach—stop blaming the Dodgers and start blaming the teams that refuse to spend.

“Other MLB teams have money as well; they are just choosing not to spend and go for it,” he said. The numbers back him up. The Los Angeles Dodgers sit at a $393 million payroll, while the Marlins at $43M and the Pirates at $60M barely break into eight figures. The budgetary disparity is obvious; however, the real issue is not just money—it is intent.

Chris “Mad Dog” Russo said bluntly, “How are you supposed to compete when the Dodgers have four and five times your payroll?” The frustration is real; however, a better issue is, why do such teams have such low budgets in the first place? The Los Angeles Dodgers pull in $321 million yearly from TV deals; however, revenue sharing distributes $400 million across smaller-market teams.

Instead of utilizing that money to establish a competitive roster, some teams treat it as extra profit. For instance, the Pirates run with a $60M payroll despite Bob Nutting being worth $1.2 billion. The A’s slashed payroll to $40M while securing a $380M stadium deal in Las Vegas. In addition, the Orioles, valued at $1.7 billion, have refused to invest in elite talent. However, for every team that maximizes its budget, there are teams actively choosing not to spend.

MLB’s real issue is not the Los Angeles Dodgers; it is the proprietor

The Los Angeles Dodgers are doing what every fan wishes their team would. The Yankees, Mets as well as Phillies at least make a trial, while, the Pirates, A’s as well as Marlins cry poor while pocketing revenue-sharing checks. If a manager is not investing, it is not because they cannot—it is because the team will not. Chris Rose said it best, “MLB needs a spending floor. Teams with billion-dollar managers acting broke is a way bigger problem than the Dodgers spending money to win.“.

Some MLB teams ignore investing largely in player contracts because of financial constraints, strategic planning, and management approaches. Smaller-market teams, like the Athletics with a $50.2 million payroll, and the Pirates with $73.3 million, struggle to compete with high-spending teams like the Mets. The $237 million Competitive Balance Tax threshold also discourages overinvestment. Some teams intentionally keep payrolls low to secure top draft picks, as seen with the Orioles.

The team invested under $60 million from 2019 to 2021. Unlike leagues with strict salary caps, MLB enables teams to control investment, guiding some teams to focus on profits over expensive free-agent deals. If your team is not competing, do not blame the Dodgers; blame your manager. MLB’s payroll gap is real; however, the larger issue is teams choosing to sit out of the race.

So, does not the league enforce a spending floor? Do fans just need to accept that some teams will always focus on profits over championships? Share your thoughts below.