Many baseball fans have taken offense to what the Los Angeles Dodgers have done this winter. Unlike many defending champions, the Dodgers chose to be one of the most active teams this offseason.
The numerous blockbuster signings were unprecedented. The star talent on the roster is laughable. And perhaps most vexing, no other organization has matched the Dodgers’ acquisitions this offseason.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts believes the reason baseball fans are angry actually stems from jealousy.
“I certainly come from probably a biased perspective as a bigger-market team. I think it’s really impressive and the way it should be as far as us putting our money into the ball club, into the players,” Roberts told MLB Network Radio. “I think the frustration for fans want their teams to have the same kind of motivation that our ownership does. I think the evil empire sort of thing, people like to root against somebody. I still think teams would liek to invest in teams rather than sit on their hands. What we’ve tried to do is try to create a destination place.”
While the Dodgers have signed, retained, extended, and traded players, many other front offices have sat idly by. The reigning World Series champions have acted with a sense of urgency, despite winning the title just three months ago.
The success of the Dodgers did not happen overnight. It took years of growing pains after the franchise filed for bankruptcy due to poor ownership. And now, the Dodgers are in a prime position to win another World Series.
But is what the Dodgers have done unfair? The short answer is no. Team president Stan Kasten explained why.
“So, obviously, it hasn’t damaged the game competitively,” Kasten said.
“And, on the entertainment side, which is what we are, it’s really good when there is one team beloved by their fans, who come out in record numbers, leading all of baseball in attendance, while that same team can be hated and lead baseball in road attendance. That’s a win-win for baseball.
“And this is also really contributing to the enhanced globalization of central baseball around the world. So it’s a win-win-win. This is really good for baseball. I have no question about it.”