"Is what the Dodgers are doing good for baseball? I don’t know" – Mets coach Eric Chavez makes feelings known about Los Angeles' spending spree

The Los Angeles Dodgers have redefined spending in baseball. With two big-money contracts that are at least partially deferred, they've been the biggest spenders the last two seasons. It seems as if there is no limit to how much they'll pay to add talent to the roster.

The New York Mets have also spent a lot, but only this offseason. They added a $765 million contract to the books, the largest by any team in sports history. Eric Chavez, the team's batting coach, reflected on what their NL rivals are doing.

Chavez said:

"Is what the Dodgers are doing good for baseball? I don't know. I'm excited for 2025, I'll tell you that. First thing I did was look on the schedule, see when we're playing them. Can't wait.

"Back in the late 90s, 2000s, Evil Empire coming to Oakland Coliseum. The lowly A's versus the New York Yankees. ... I accepted the challenge... David and Goliath."

Chavez isn't sure if this is a sustainable business practice, and he's not sure the current system in Major League Baseball will stand up. The next collective bargaining agreement could result in some pushback on how the Dodgers have operated so far.

---

How much have the Dodgers spent in the last two seasons?

The Dodgers have spent more than most teams have in the last couple of seasons. It all mostly began with the $700 million contract for Shohei Ohtani, but it certainly didn't end there.

Shohei Ohtani signed a $700 million deal (Imagn)

In that same offseason, they signed Teoscar Hernandez for $23 million, extended Tyler Glasnow for $136.5 million and added Yoshinobu Yamamoto for $325 million.

They didn't stop in 2025 either. Blake Snell signed a $182 million contract. Roki Sasaki, although not on a mega deal due to international free agency rules, signed. Tanner Scott joined on a $72 million contract. Tommy Edman re-signed for $74 million, and Hernandez re-upped for $66 million.

All told, they've spent over $1.5 billion in two offseasons. It is of course partly deferred and stretched out over the next few years, but it's an impressive total nonetheless.