MLB Twitter reacts to ranking of 5 teams with lowest payrolls heading into 2023 season: "Embarrassing MLB allows this to happen"

With the MLB season fast approaching, teams that haven't spent big on their rosters are under the microscope. This offseason has seen some teams shell out big salaries, while others have spent frivolously. Since there is no hard cap in the big leagues, teams are free to spend the amount they choose.

Fans hope that their favorite team will spend a lot of money to field a successful roster. But that's not the reality in baseball. In some cases, financial success is more of a priority than winning championships. MLB allows for both approaches to be taken. But fans clearly prefer teams to be big spenders.

Teams that consistently have low payrolls seem intent on keeping that trend going. Regardless of their annual revenue, these teams refuse to significantly increase their payroll. The Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles will likely be competitive this season. However, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Oakland Athletics will likely be at the bottom of the standings.

The New York Mets and San Diego Padres spent an exorbitant amount of money in free agency this offseason. It was especially surprising to see from the Padres, which is considered to be a smaller market team. It disproves the notion that small market teams don't spend money because of financial constraints.

In baseball, managing a payroll is nearly as important as fielding a successful team. Overpaying for players or spending recklessly can set a franchise back for a long time. Every fan just wants to see their team win, regardless of the cost.

The MLB landscape was shaken up wildly this offseason. Teams are no longer being given a pass for their cheap spending habits.

Will MLB introduce a potential ceiling or floor on roster spending?

Any major rule changes have to be agreed upon by a majority of MLB owners. Hence, it will be challenging to create rules that punish teams for not spending enough money on their rosters.

For many owners, the system is working just fine and consistently turning them a profit. It's frustrating to be a fan of a team that doesn't want to spend money. Oftentimes, these teams do little to provide hope that they will field a competitive team in the near future. It's frustrating, but it is an unfortunate reality.

About the author

Nathan is a journalist covering Major League Baseball at Sportskeeda. Born in Vancouver B.C., Nathan has always been a huge sports fan. Nathan grew up a fan of the Toronto Blue Jays through virtue of being a Canadian. Attending several Seattle Mariners games over the years made him a fan of the club. His favorite sports moments are Jose Bautista's clutch playoff home run and the Mariners ending their playoff drought in 2022.

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