“Big Spender” serves as the theme song for baseball’s final four.
The New York Mets, New York Yankees, and Los Angeles Dodgers are competing in the League Championship Series, representing the top three payrolls in the sport, along with Cleveland, which ranks 23rd.
“You have to scratch and claw and match up and make moves, take shots, and hope that it works,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt explained. “For the other three teams, they usually just set their lineup and go play.”
The Mets-Dodgers National League Championship Series starts on Sunday, and the Yankees-Guardians American League matchup begins on Monday.
These games feature some of baseball’s biggest stars, including Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, and Pete Alonso. Cleveland has a top closer in Emmanuel Clase and a strong hitter in José Ramírez.
The playoff matchups raise the question of whether spending more money leads to success.
“Obviously, spending more gives you a better chance — you’re bringing in more players,” Mets reliever Adam Ottavino said. “But it hasn’t always worked out that way.”
The Mets have the highest payroll at $332 million, followed by the Yankees at $311 million and the Dodgers at $266 million, based on Major League Baseball’s latest projections (the final numbers are calculated in winter, after bonuses are accounted for). The Guardians’ payroll is $109 million.
“I’m not thinking about payroll,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I’m thinking about our 26 guys and beating the Mets. That’s it.”
Last year, Texas ranked sixth in payroll at $241 million when they won the World Series against Arizona, which was 20th with a payroll of $129 million.
Since the current luxury tax began, the only top spenders to win championships have been the 2020 Dodgers, 2018 Red Sox, and 2009 Yankees. Boston has won twice with a top-three payroll, spending the second-most in 2004 and 2007, and being third-highest in 2013.
Seven of the last 21 champions have had payrolls outside the top 10: the 2021 Braves (14th), 2017 Astros (18th), 2015 Royals (13th), 2011 Cardinals (11th), 2010 Giants (11th), 2005 White Sox (13th), and 2003 Marlins (20th).
“As far as the payroll goes, it comes down to playing good baseball,” said San Diego manager Mike Shildt, whose team ranked 15th and lost to Los Angeles in a five-game Division Series.
The Dodgers and Mets will meet in the postseason for the fourth time. LA won the 1988 NLCS, while New York won the NLDS in 2006 and 2015. The 1988 matchup was notable for the ejection of Dodgers pitcher Jay Howell in Game 3 for having pine tar on his glove.
The 2015 NLDS included a controversial moment when Dodgers player Chase Utley broke shortstop Ruben Tejada’s leg while trying to break up a double play, leading MLB to ban rolling body blocks before the 2016 season.
After the Mets won two out of three games at Dodger Stadium this April, Los Angeles swept New York at Citi Field in late May. This led to a players-only meeting that helped New York recover from a 22-33 start.
Jack Flaherty will pitch the opener for the Dodgers, while Kodai Senga will start for the Mets in just his third game of a season affected by injuries. Sean Manaea will pitch Game 2 for New York, which had three days off after beating Philadelphia in a four-game Division Series.
Dodgers All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman, who is playing with a sprained right ankle, went 4 for 14 with no RBIs in the NLDS.
Cleveland and the Yankees will be facing each other for the seventh time in the postseason. Cleveland won Division Series in 1997 and 2007, but lost the 1998 ALCS, the Division Series in 2017 and 2022, and the wild-card round in 2020.
The Yankees were close to advancing in 1997 before Sandy Alomar hit a tying homer off Mariano Rivera in Game 4. The Indians won that series in five games, eliminating New York, which had won the 1996 title and went on to win three more from 1998 to 2000.
Two years ago, Cleveland’s Josh Naylor upset Yankees fans with his “rock-the-baby” celebration after hitting a home run off Gerrit Cole in Game 4.
New York won two out of three games against Cleveland in April and also won at home in August. After beating Kansas City in a four-game ALDS, the Yankees might start Carlos Rodón in the opener and Gerrit Cole in Game 2. Cleveland, which defeated Detroit in Game 5 on Saturday, could choose Alex Cobb for Game 1.
