The World Series matchup between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers is creating a lot of buzz. These two legendary teams haven’t faced each other in the championship since 1981, and star players like Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Shohei Ohtani, and Mookie Betts are adding excitement to the event.

However, for fans of smaller-market MLB teams who can’t compete with the high payrolls of these prestigious franchises, this World Series serves as a reminder of a harsh reality: Championships often come down to financial power, leaving others feeling marginalized in their attempts to compete.

In this article, YSL News Sports delves into the financial aspects of the 120th World Series.

Are the Yankees and Dodgers the Teams with the Highest Payrolls?

Not exactly. Different approaches exist for calculating payroll, but one fact stands firm: The New York Mets lead the pack.

Steve Cohen’s Mets had a rocky start to the season but rallied later on, ultimately reaching Game 6 of the National League Championship Series. They truly delivered on their hefty investment: Mets ranked first in the preseason payroll at $305.6 million, end-of-season costs at $317.7 million, and competitive balance tax payroll projected at $356.2 million.

A significant portion of the Mets’ expenses includes “dead money,” with over $50 million allocated to salaries for pitchers Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, who were traded in 2023.

The Yankees and Dodgers follow closely behind: the Yankees ranked No. 2 in preseason spending ($303.3 million), while the Dodgers were third ($249.8 million). However, they switched ranks on the luxury tax payroll, with the Dodgers at $351.7 million and the Yankees at $314.8 million, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts.

Is Shohei Ohtani the Highest-Paid Player?

Yes, sort of. His 10-year, $700 million deal breaks records for both total and average value. However, due to its heavy deferral – receiving only $2 million annually until he gets $68 million from 2034 to 2043 – the current value is significantly lower, estimated at $28 million for annual payroll and $46 million for luxury tax calculations.

Nevertheless, Ohtani is set for a comfortable financial future, making over $50 million yearly through endorsements as an international sensation.

Will Aaron Judge Be the Highest-Paid Player in 2024?

Pretty close. Judge’s nine-year, $360 million deal gives him an average of $40 million per year. In 2024, that’s slightly less than Verlander and Scherzer’s $43.3 million and next year, it will be just behind Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler’s $42 million after he begins a new three-year, $126 million contract.

Judge’s earnings this year matched those of Texas pitcher Jacob deGrom, who made $40 million both this year and in 2025 before declining to $38 million in 2026. While outstanding pitchers are rarer, Judge’s average salary remains among the highest.

For the time being.

Will Juan Soto’s Earnings Surpass Aaron Judge’s?

Most likely, which seems surprising given Judge’s two MVP awards compared to Soto’s none. Judge was 30 when he re-signed with the Yankees after his 2022 MVP season.

Soto, on the other hand, is only 25 – turning 26 on the opening game of the World Series – and has consistently performed at an MVP-caliber level since he helped lead the Washington Nationals to a World Series title in 2019.

This season, Soto earned $31 million in his final arbitration year. Once he reaches free agency – with the Yankees potentially looking to sign him – he’s expected to secure over $500 million.

This amount will likely fall somewhere between Judge and Ohtani’s contracts.

How Many Players Earning Over $100 Million Do the Dodgers and Yankees Have?

A key aspect that distinguishes high-revenue teams is their willingness to offer massive contracts without fearing potential pitfalls.

Successful teams are both strategic and bold with these investments, and the Yankees, with four, and the Dodgers, with six nine-figure players, exemplify this well.

Consequently, the significant financial commitments made by the Yankees and Dodgers played a vital role in shaping their seasons and playoff journeys:

• Judge (nine years, $360 million): 58 home runs during the regular season with a 1.159 OPS.
• Giancarlo Stanton (13 years, $325 million, with the Marlins covering $30 million): Four home runs and a 1.222 OPS in this postseason.
• Gerrit Cole (nine years, $324 million): The Yankees are 3-0 in his postseason starts after he overcame an elbow injury this season as the reigning Cy Young winner.
• Carlos Rodón (six years, $162 million): Pitched and won Game 1 of the ALCS also starting in the decisive Game 5.
• Ohtani (10 years, $700 million): Made history with the first 50-50 season in major leagues, alongside a .934 OPS and 11 RBIs in 11 playoff games.
• Betts (12 years, $365 million): Posted an .863 OPS in a season affected by a hand injury, but excelled with a .296/.404/.659 line and four homers this postseason.
• Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12 years, $325 million): Maintained a 3.00 ERA in 18 starts, delivering five shutout innings in NLCS Game 5.
• Freddie Freeman (six years, $162 million): Hit 22 home runs with an .854 OPS but faced an ankle injury during the playoffs.
• Will Smith (10 years, $140 million): Contributed 20 homers and a 116 adjusted OPS, including a crucial homer in NLCS Game 6.
• Tyler Glasnow (five years, $136 million): Recorded a 3.49 ERA in 22 starts before an elbow sprain sidelined him.

Do the Yankees and Dodgers really buy all their players?

Not exactly. Out of the 26 players on the Dodgers’ NLCS roster, seven were fully developed within the organization, either drafted or signed. Another seven were brought in via trades largely utilizing homegrown minor league talent. Additionally, four players, including three strong bullpen members and slugger Max Muncy, were acquired through waivers.

Out of their eight free agent signings, only four – Kiké Hernández, Ryan Brasier, Blake Treinen, and Daniel Hudson – were on the pricier side.

The Yankees? They feature six homegrown players, notably three key ones: Judge, shortstop Anthony Volpe, and starter Clarke Schmidt. Four were taken in waivers, and six were signed as free agents, but the majority of the roster – 11 players – were obtained through trades.

Many trades did reflect financial strength, such as acquiring Stanton and the $265 million contract that followed him from Miami. A strong package of major league-ready players was used to land Soto with his $30.1 million arbitration cost. However, there’s also a smart strategy involved, particularly with rookie starter Luis Gil, obtained from Minnesota in exchange for Jake Cave.

In summary, there are numerous strategies to build a championship team, but having a generous budget definitely helps.

Does money mean the same teams always win the World Series?

Not at all. Since the Yankees last repeated as World Series champions, having won three titles in a row and four out of five from 1996 to 2000, 16 different franchises have claimed the title in the ensuing 23 years.

The Boston Red Sox secured four championships (2004, 2007, 2013, 2018), the San Francisco Giants won three (2010, 2012, 2014), and both the Houston Astros (2017, 2022) and St. Louis Cardinals (2006, 2011) took home two each. The rest of the winners include a mix from mid-level markets like Kansas City to larger cities such as Philadelphia, and surprisingly, two teams from Chicago – the notoriously cursed Cubs and the White Sox, who ended decades of struggle with a title in 2005.

Do fans favor watching World Series with lower-payroll teams?

Not necessarily. The 2023 World Series, featuring the Arizona Diamondbacks (ranked 21^st in payroll) against the Texas Rangers (with a top 10 payroll but no prior championships), turned out to be the lowest-rated Fall Classic ever.

So what’s with all the complaints?

That’s a good question. Many who claim to be uninterested in this high-stakes competition may still find themselves tuning in. After all, those TV ratings won’t boost themselves.