Dodgers feature one of MLB’s largest payrolls, paying off with 2024 World Series title

New York and Los Angeles are Major League Baseball’s two largest markets, with the Yankees and Dodgers carrying the second and fifth-highest payrolls, respectively, into the 2024 season.

This season, the Dodgers put together one of the biggest payrolls in MLB history—and are now crowned the 2024 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS!

Combined team payroll

The Yankees invested $309 million in their 2024 payroll, ranking second-highest in the league, while the Dodgers came in fifth with $241 million. (The New York Mets, who fell to the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, led the league in payroll spending this year.)

Together, these teams’ payrolls reached a massive $550 million, marking the highest-ever combined payroll for a World Series matchup. This amount surpassed previous records, including 2022’s $427 million and 2018’s $426 million, according to Spotrac’s contract data, which dates back to 2011.

The Dodgers’ financial strength and willingness to invest in high salaries allow them to recruit and keep elite players, making them one of the most financially solid franchises in MLB.

Leading the Dodgers’ 2024 payroll list is Shohei Ohtani, whose two-way talent brings unparalleled value to the team. The roster’s talent pool deepens with big-name stars like Betts and Freeman in top pay brackets, further cementing the Dodgers’ strength.

As one of the wealthiest MLB teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers are known for offering substantial contracts to their top players. Here’s a snapshot of the 2024 Dodgers’ salary hierarchy:

• SHOHEI OHTANI: 10 years, $700 million
• MOOKIE BETTS: 12 years, $365 million
• YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: 12 years, $325 million
• FREDDIE FREEMAN: 6 years, $162 million
• WILL SMITH: 10 years, $140 million
• TYLER GLASNOW: 5 years, $136 million

Is Shohei Ohtani the highest-paid player in the game?

Yes—sort of. His 10-year, $700 million contract sets records in both total value and average annual value. However, the contract includes heavy deferrals—Ohtani receives $2 million per year now and will earn $68 million annually from 2034 to 2043. For present-day payroll, this calculates to $28 million, with a CBT (Competitive Balance Tax) payroll of $46 million.

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