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Manny Machado Cheers Dodgers' Spending, Urges Teams to Invest

2/15/2026

44 8 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Manny Machado, a San Diego Padres star, praised the Los Angeles Dodgers' spending, saying, "I f---ing love it," and urged other teams to follow suit.
He noted the San Diego Padres' financial struggles and ownership transition but argued unrestricted spending benefits the game.
The Dodgers' payroll nears $400 million, far ahead of the Padres' low-cost offseason signings, while labor talks consider a cap that Machado says should not exist.

History

Historical Context

In 2021, Major League Baseball experienced a financial transformation as the Los Angeles Dodgers' payroll neared $400 million, a stark contrast to the New York Yankees' $200 million in 2019. This trend of escalating expenditures echoes the 1994 strike over salary caps, raising concerns about competitive balance and labor negotiations in the sport, as teams grapple with significant financial disparities.

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Story summary

Manny Machado, a San Diego Padres star, praised the Los Angeles Dodgers' spending, saying, "I f---ing love it," and urged other teams to follow suit.
He noted the San Diego Padres' financial struggles and ownership transition but argued unrestricted spending benefits the game.
The Dodgers' payroll nears $400 million, far ahead of the Padres' low-cost offseason signings, while labor talks consider a cap that Machado says should not exist.

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