It won’t be wrong to say that the Los Angeles Dodgers are the villains of MLB right now. Would it? They took the spotlight when they signed Shohei Ohtani and won the World Series, but in the offseason—they took it to another level. They spent money like water and boarded in one superstar after another. LA flexing their financial muscle started to hurt eyes, many deeming them as bad for baseball.

Hal Steinbrenner, the New York Yankees owner who has spent a fair bit this offseason, in fact, voiced his opinion on the Dodgers. “It’s difficult for most of us owners to be able to do the kind of things that they’re doing.” Translation? LA is playing in their own league, and he isn’t thrilled. But not everyone feels the Dodgers are the bad guys. At least not Steinbrenner’s crosstown MLB team owner, Steve Cohen.

Steve Cohen tips his cap to the Dodgers

“They’ve built a great business over there with revenues that are significantly above almost any other team, and that gives them the ability to do things that perhaps other teams can’t do. So kudos to them—they’ve built a great organization,” mentioned Cohen.

Cohen even joked, “I’m a piker now compared to the Dodgers.”

Well, that’s a wild statement coming from the guy with one of the highest payrolls in MLB. But that’s not to say he isn’t aware of the price tag of success. The New York Mets’ luxury tax sits around $300 million. That’s $90 million above the threshold. They are forced to shell out $75 million in fees.

Also, did you know this very same luxury tax is also known as the Cohen tax? There was a time he was spending so much, the organization had to create this. “Nobody wants to pay tax. Those are expensive taxes. I’d like to get below the Cohen Tax,” Cohen shared.

So, while others are complaining, Steve Cohen knows better. And his spending habits show he believes in not just having an open hand but rather a smart spending habit. And now he is eyeing that championship trophy.

Can the Mets’ star power finally take them all the way?

The New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers are the financial powerhouses today. But they are also turning out to be the most fascinating rivalry in the National League at least. The Mets, in fact, had come very close to a World Series appearance last season. But they fell to LA in the NLCS.

But now they have new additions, and someone who was in the World Series just last season– Juan Soto. Plus, they also have Pete Alonso, and together they can anchor the Mets ship for another deep postseason run.

On one hand, Juan Soto ruled the New York Yankees last run. And on the other, Alonso might not have had a great year, but it doesn’t mean he isn’t of caliber. He still crushed 34 home runs with 88 RBIs.

The Polar Bear recently admitted to MLB.com, “I didn’t have my best year last year.”

But now the time is to look forward and make 2025 special. Juan Soto has talked about how he is excited for this partnership. Whether Alonso can be like Judge to Soto as he stands on that mound remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, though, the New York Mets have hit a roadblock already. Their pitcher, Frankie Montas, has been sidelined because of an injury. This is bad news because the team needs Montas and Kodai Senga to eat up serious innings this season. As spring training kicks off February 22 against Houston, one thing is for sure—Cohen will be watching.