Overview

• The Dodgers’ 2025 luxury-tax payroll was about $288.2 million versus the Brewers’ roughly $60.1 million, per Spotrac, underscoring the postseason’s ‘David vs. Goliath’ framing.
• Commissioner Rob Manfred and several owners have signaled support for implementing a salary cap, a stance the MLB Players Association continues to oppose.
• ESPN’s Jeff Passan has argued that a Dodgers championship would likely embolden owners to push harder for a cap in the next round of collective bargaining.
• Fans on social media are calling for a cap or a payroll floor in response to Los Angeles’ spending, with some warning of a potential lockout if negotiations falter after 2026.
• Reporting highlights that the Dodgers’ more than $2 billion in recent contract commitments helped reignite the broader debate over MLB’s financial structure.