The Dodgers 2024 payroll has surpassed the GDP of the Marshall Islands
Team news
[Sportico] D-backs Find Their Way in Rich Free-Agent Market – The D-backs have always had a practice of investing any profits back into the franchise, and have done so before by signing pitchers Zack Greinke, Madison Bumgarner, Eduardo Rodriguez and Montgomery for big money. Now they have a potential starting rotation that could include Burnes, Rodriguez, Montgomery, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Brandon Pfaadt and Ryan Nelson. It’s an embarrassment of riches. “If you’re going to win, you’re going to have to invest,” Kendrick said. That is how the Burnes contract was able to come about and how a mid-level team like the D-backs was able to do it.
[Arizona Sports] Diamondbacks set to showcase top prospects at spring training vs. Royals – The Arizona Diamondbacks take on the Kansas City Royals on March 14 at 5:10 p.m. from Salt River Fields. The game could feature the Diamondbacks’ top prospect in shortstop Jordan Lawlar, who missed most of last season with thumb and hamstring injuries. Lawlar in Triple-A Reno last season batted .367 with two home runs and 12 RBIs in 12 games with 58 plate appearances. Other top-ranked Diamondbacks prospects to watch include outfielder Druw Jones, infielder Tommy Troy and 2024 first-round pick, Slade Caldwell. The 18-year-old outfielder led his Arkansas high school team to the 5A state championship in 2024 and also went back-to-back in securing high school player of the year.
[SI] Will Gabriel Moreno Become one of MLB’s Best Catchers in 2025? – Moreno is an incredibly talented young ballplayer. While his offense hasn’t broken out yet completely at the major league level, his defense is already historically good. Winning a Gold Glove in 2023, he has set himself up nicely for a future with the Diamondbacks as one of their most important assets. At only 24 years old he has plenty of time to find his power stroke, something that was displayed on a national stage during Arizona’s magical run to the World Series in 2023. While projections of 9 home runs and a .772 OPS may seem out of reach now, a year from now things may look far different.
And, elsewhere…
[ESPN] Dodgers land closer Tanner Scott with 4-year, $72M deal – Scott’s deal includes a $20 million signing bonus and $21 million in deferred payments, a structure the Dodgers have applied to several deals this offseason, a source familiar with the situation said. The addition of Scott likely puts the finishing touches on another busy offseason for the reigning World Series champions. Originally a sixth-round pick in 2014, Scott has established himself as a dominant force over these past two years. With the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres from 2023 to 2024, Scott posted a 2.04 ERA in 146 appearances, striking out 188 batters and issuing 60 walks in 150 innings.
The Dodgers payroll after adding Tanner Scott will be about $70 million above the Phillies for highest payroll in baseball.
There are currently six teams spending less than the difference between those two team
— Derek Montilla (@Cap_Kaveman) January 19, 2025
[MLB Trade Rumors] Poll: Would You Trade The 2027 MLB Season For A Salary Cap? – The drumbeat from fans, at least on social media, seems to be getting louder for a salary cap. It’s hard to argue: if all 30 teams were capped at spending, say, $200MM on player payroll, the regular season playing field would be leveled significantly. There would be star free agents the Dodgers, Mets, and other big markets simply could not sign. The salary cap would be tied to league revenue, and would rise accordingly. I’m not convinced a salary cap (and floor) is the only way to improve parity, but it’s the most obvious one.
[MLB] The baseball – and Hollywood – star who’s been lost to history – it is understandable how someone like Mike Donlin could be so famous in one era and so anonymous in another. “Turkey Mike,” as he was known in his time, died more than 91 years ago, which makes him one cold turkey. His fame came in a time when the world was not yet Technicolor. But were you to be transported to the early 1900s, you would be astonished at the level of fame this ballplayer-turned-actor achieved. And by the same token, the denizens of the day would be astonished to know that Mike Donlin – a man who came of age right alongside the grand ol’ game, the vaudeville circuit and the Hollywood talkies and whose every exploit was dutifully documented by the press – is now a name largely lost to history.
[12 News] Dylan Rock aims to swing back into professional baseball with the help of a Valley baseball facility – Driving a baseball is only half the current battle. Driving a car is where Rock’s comeback takes a turn. As an Uber driver to pay the bills and expensive training fees, Rock said he’s seen it all. “There’s definitely been some strange instances and I’ve dealt with quite a few intoxicated people,” he said, noting that he’s amassed 436 five-star ratings. Rock also said he’s never hurting for a conversation starter. “I tell them that I play professional baseball, and I’ve been in the Blue Jays minor league system,” he said. “I pretty much just accept every ride.”
Blue Velvet (1986)
Rating: B
Dir: David Lynch
Star: Isabella Rossellini, Kyle MacLachlan, Dennis Hopper, Laura Dern
I could never get into a lot of Lynch’s output, save for the features between this and Mulholland Drive, where he actually seemed to have some interest in coherent narrative. While I can appreciate his style, I am too much of a fan of a story to relate to the image-based approach. I checked back in with Eraserhead a couple of years ago. Still nope. But again: he was an undeniable cinematic artist. Just not my cinematic artist. I’d been wanting a chance to revisit what’s likely his best-known work for a while. Last week’s news provided the unfortunate impetus to that end.