In a moment that underscores a bigger debate about money in baseball, Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres says he’s all for the Dodgers’ large-scale spending and is not advocating a shakeout to level the playing field. From Padres camp in Peoria, Arizona, Machado didn’t hide his enthusiasm: “I f---ing love it. Every team should be doing it. That s--- is f---ing great for the game.”
The Dodgers continued a winter spending spree, lifting their payroll to roughly $400 million after adding Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million contract—the market’s top hitter this offseason.
Meanwhile, the Padres took a different route, adding lower-cost pieces: German Marquez and Griffin Canning to bolster the rotation, plus outfielder Nick Castellanos, whose $20 million salary is being covered by the Philadelphia Phillies.
Rather than push for a more balanced financial landscape across markets, Machado expressed a preference for universal spending on par with the Dodgers. “I think every team has the ability to do it,” he said. “I hope all 30 teams learn from that.”
The topic isn’t just about on-field talent—labor talks are looming. Some players and executives have been asked whether the Dodgers’ aggressive spending helps or harms the game. Bryce Harper weighed in, praising the Dodgers for running a championship-caliber operation and suggesting other teams can emulate their approach through drafting, development, and shrewd trades, even if they can’t match the payroll top tier.
For the Padres, the financial contrast isn’t new. A few years ago, they signed Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Xander Bogaerts to massive long-term deals. Today, San Diego ranks sixth in spending, trailing Los Angeles by about $150 million.
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes downplayed the need for external validation, crediting ownership’s support and focusing on roster needs. He framed success as winning championships and improving year after year, saying the team won’t be distracted by outside commentary.
A lingering topic in the labor talks is whether baseball should implement a salary cap. As the game without a cap among major pro sports, the Dodgers’ spending has intensified the debate. Machado argues against a cap, noting the profitability seen over the past five years and insisting that any team can choose to spend if they want to.
ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez contributed to this report.
