Los Angeles Dodgers two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani rarely speaks to the media, especially when it comes to outside noise, but he made time on Wednesday to address the spending criticism that has come the Dodgers’ way.
Just like the 2025 offseason, the Dodgers have opened the checkbook in the 2026 offseason, signing outfielder Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million deal and Edwin Diaz to a three-year, $69 million contract.
The signings have led to the Dodgers boasting the highest payroll by a margin and an even bigger luxury tax bill from the league.
MLB fans of other teams have responded by continuing the narrative that the Dodgers are “ruining baseball” and have an unfair advantage because of their willingness to go well into the luxury tax.
For Ohtani, however, he is happy with the aggressiveness that the Dodgers have taken in free agency, signaling that the team is living up to his promise.
“I think it’s very exciting,” Ohtani said to NBC News. “You know, when I did decide to sign with the Dodgers, that was a conversation I had with the ownership group.
“They promised me that they were going to put the best team out on the field. And just, you know, the goal was to, again, continue to win as many World Series as we could.
“I never forget that I go out on the field every day, kind of feeling the pressure, but at the same time having fun and knowing that this team has a chance to win and we can bring it, bring it home to the fans.”
What are Ohtani’s thoughts on the Dodgers winning a World Series?
Ohtani also gave his thoughts on the prospect of Los Angeles bringing home another title this season, and what it would mean to achieve a three-peat.
“As you look back at history, there’s only been a, you know, small group of teams that have three-peated,” Ohtani said.
“The task is going to be very difficult. However, I do hope that, you know, when I retire and I look back and I can be able to say that, hey, I was on that team that won three, three championships in a row. That would be very cool.”
With a team that is filled with talent and the front office investing in Shohei Ohtani’s prime years, the Dodgers are the favorites to win the 2026 World Series, and they are betting players like Tucker and Diaz can help them avoid a close call like 2025 with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Are the criticisms of the Dodgers’ spending warranted? Should their spending be limited? Have your say in the comments.
13 Responses
All owners are billionaires. Open your wallets or stop complaining.
I totally agree, and those that don’t should STOP CRYING!! There’s NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!! GO DODGERS!!?????
AMEN! I’m tired of the whining about the Dodgers. The fans of other teams should be boycotting their teams until the filthy rich owners cough it up for premiere players!
Theres so much truth in this
Money talks … nobody walks … what else is new.
How one or a group of people choose to spend their money is no one’s business but their own. Every owner has the ability to spend and produce a better team. Please stop the whining and crying and direct your criticism to the owners of each city to upgrade their teams. Then their may be parity……
SPEND AS MUCH AS YOU NEED TO IN ORDER TO BRING HOME A CHAMPIONSHIP. WE GO TO GAMES TO SEE WINS NOT LOSSES!
Agree!
The fans are willing to pay the prices for tickets and other items required to field this great team! I can’t afford to buy decent game tickets, so I don’t go. Such is life!
It would be nice if the Dodgers made more live games available to the Dodger fans who are unable to watch games due to cost, distance, or blackouts in their area. I attended my first Dodger game in 1958. I was 5 1/2 years old at the time. I’ve been a fan ever since. I just don’t go to games.
Hey Brent, You can stream the vast majority of games on Sportsnet LA. The only games that are blacked out are when the Dodgers happen to be on Sunday Night Baseball (Peacock) or in a few games carried by Netflix and ESPN. At $29.95 a month you can pay for the entire season for less than you would likely spend on two people going to a single game at Dodger Stadium.
Go to mlb.com and do a search for Dodgers streaming and you can sign right up.
Hope you get this and good luck
I’m thankful that the baseball team ive adored and suffered so many terrible seasons with for over 50 years (!) when the team was expected to win, snd teams that came so close and didnt win it all, so many seasons of knowing, KNOWING this was the year they’d win it all only to be disappointed again.
Those days are gone. I really want this third ring. I already feel spoiled. The only thing missing is Vin and Tommy here to see it all go down.
I agree whole heartedly… especially Artie Moreno (Angels) and Charlie Monfort (Rockies), two owners who can make a penny scream from them pinching it so tightly. Oh for the days when Jerry McMorris was the managing partner of the Rockies and they always competed. Not any more… same with Moreno…
Before we switched owners the dodgers were that team that didn’t spend, didn’t invest yet I still watched us lose ,a lot !! but now these owners are different so to all our fans f the haters and enjoy our awsome team, thank you and hats off to the front office and the owners to make this great team happen