Dave Roberts Isn’t a Fan of the Dodgers Buying a Title Narrative
Over the past 15 years, the Dodgers have consistently drafted and developed players with the best teams in the league. It’s not a coincidence that over that period they also have the most wins of any team. Notable homegrown talents in that time period include Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger, and Clayton Kershaw.
Still, despite the Dodgers having a top farm system annually, a narrative develops that the team tries to spend its way to a title. Right now, they project the second-highest payroll, after taxes, behind the New York Yankees.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts takes exception to the notion that they are buying a ring. He points out that the roster still has plenty of players that the organization developed.
As far as starting pitchers go, the Dodgers drafted Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Bobby Miller, and Emmett Sheehan. All four of these pitchers will make significant contributions to the team this year. Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin would also make this list, but they are not expected to pitch in 2024.
The position players have their own crop of homegrown talent. Will Smith, James Outman, and Gavin Lux have only ever worn Dodger blue in their careers. Max Muncy and Austin Barnes are honorable mentions here, as well. The Miami Marlins drafted Barnes, and then subsequently traded him to Los Angeles where he has played his whole career. Muncy has spent six of his eight big-league years in L.A. after signing on a minor-league deal. He experienced all his success since joining the Dodgers.
The team also could not have acquired players like Mookie Betts or Tyler Glasnow had they not had players other teams wanted. Alex Verdugo, Ryan Pepiot, and Johnny DeLuca were the homegrown players the Dodgers traded away in those deals.
The critics are correct here, though. The Dodgers do try and buy their championships. The secret to the Dodgers’ sustained success is through the draft and development — where the organization commits more money and resources than any other team.
Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
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What everyone fails to say is that with Ohtani and Yamamoto, other teams made the same or similar offers to sign them. They both chose the Dodgers. They didn’t outbid everyone for them — as the Padres and Mets have done the last couple of years (Scherzer, Verlander, Bogaerts …).
If it were that easy the Mets would have won the World Series last year. The Dodgers would have won it 2022 and 2021. The World Series teams last year were the 9th and 21st highest payrolls in baseball. Hence, you can’t buy a World Series!!