Manny Machado’s unexpected take on the Dodgers’ spending spree

Criticism has mounted over the eye-watering sums the Los Angeles Dodgers have committed to signing elite talent over the past two seasons – an investment that has delivered back-to-back World Series titles.

Unlike other MLB franchises, the California powerhouse appears to operate without a conventional payroll ceiling. In Shohei Ohtani’s case, for example, the club structured a heavily deferred contract that frees up significant money in the short term, allowing the Dodgers to continue pouring vast resources into their roster right now.

Yet not everyone sees it as a problem. Manny Machado, the San Diego Padres’ third baseman, says the spending does not trouble him in the slightest – quite the opposite. “I love it. I love it. Honestly, I think every team should do it. They’ve found a way to do it. It’s great for the sport,” he said.

Machado himself had a brief stint with the Dodgers in 2018, spending half a season in Los Angeles before agreeing to a long-term deal with the Padres.

He believes the blueprint is there for the entire league. “I think every team has the ability to do it, so hopefully all 30 teams can learn from that,” the Padres star added.

The Dodgers’ current model pushed their payroll to roughly $350 million last season, with projections nearing $480 million for the upcoming campaign. Those figures stand in stark contrast to many clubs around the league and have reignited discussion about competitive balance.

Asked whether a salary cap would be beneficial for baseball, Machado was unequivocal.

“I don’t think there should be a cap. I think our game is in a really good place with what we do.”

For comparison, the Padres are expected to carry a payroll of around $217 million at the start of the next season. San Diego finished second behind Los Angeles in the National League West in each of the past two years – close competitors on the field, but separated by hundreds of millions off it.

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