Overview

• MLB figures show the Dodgers' season outlay at about $509.5 million, including a projected near–$168 million luxury tax despite more than $1 billion in deferred salaries.
• Los Angeles meets Cincinnati in the Wild Card round with the Reds at $121 million in payroll, highlighting a stark postseason mismatch in spending.
• Six of the 12 playoff teams committed $200 million or more, while Cleveland entered with the lowest payroll at $103.9 million and Milwaukee and Seattle secured byes without crossing the tax threshold.
• The Mets ranked second in spending at $428.8 million yet missed the playoffs, reinforcing that high payrolls can fall short of expected outcomes.
• Small-market executives describe limited incentive to spend beyond a playoff-caliber roster, and the cap-versus-no-cap fight is sharpening ahead of the CBA’s December 2026 expiration.