The Los Angeles Dodgers have been on a roll this offseason after signing some of the best free agents. The franchise signed Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki to bolster their pitching. Additionally, they brought back some key players who helped them win the World Series.
While they mastered the art of bringing home top players, most of the contracts included deferral payouts. Shohei Ohtani has deferred payouts, as do several other stars, including Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Tommy Edman, and a few others.
For the Dodgers, deferral payouts are a creative way of acquiring top players. However, some MLB fans believe they are breaking baseball. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred begs to differ, saying the team is not breaking baseball. Fans took to social media to call out at Manfred for his statement.
Commissioner Rob Manfred doesn't think the Dodgers are breaking baseball pic.twitter.com/xrmK7HLSDf
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) February 6, 2025
Here’s a look at a few fan reactions from X.
“Aka the dodgers make him too much money to say what they’re doing is ridiculous,” one fan wrote.
aka the dodgers make him too much money to say what they’re doing is ridiculous
— BINK🎯 (@therealbink1) February 6, 2025
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“When the rules of your sport permit teams to do business like this, you lose a lot of interest, which baseball has and will continue to do, until caps like football are put in place. Man Fred knows where his bread is buttered,” one fan responded.
When the rules of your sport permit teams to do business like this, you lose a lot of interest, which baseball has and will continue to do, until caps like football are put in place. Man Fred knows where his bread is buttered.
— Tony Terzi (@TerziTalk) February 6, 2025
“The deferred contracts and international signings rules need to be changed. If these were fair, the dodgers payroll would be around 450 million,” another fan chipped in.
The deferred contracts and international signings rules need to be changed. If these were fair, the dodgers payroll would be around 450 million
— BMc (@Bernman328) February 7, 2025
Hahaha, MLB wouldn't dare say anything negative about Ohtani or the team he plays for… On that note, they are playing within the rule book. But to say something like that as if other owners haven't been calling him after each deferred contract signing is hilarious.
— Joshua Cedeño (@SirSpanish38) February 6, 2025
That’s what no Salary cap or floor does to a sport !
— Donnie Lo (@LonnieDo1) February 6, 2025
Well he let cheaters keep their title soooo
— The Brookpark Browns(Formally known as Cleveland) (@CalvinKohler21) February 6, 2025
Well he let cheaters keep their title soooo
— The Brookpark Browns(Formally known as Cleveland) (@CalvinKohler21) February 6, 2025
Of course he doesn’t, he gets a nice bag as well.
— DominguezTexas (@DominguezTexas) February 6, 2025
Dodgers Prepped For 2025 Season With Shohei Ohtani To Take The Mound
The Boys in Blue are prepped for the 2025 season with a star-studded pitching rotation. Snell and Sasaki are the new additions, while Tyler Glasnow and the other stars are prepared to get some strikeouts.
The most-awaited pitcher is the two-way star. Ohtani is preparing to pitch in 2025, as he has already started throwing. Dave Roberts mentioned that Ohtani will start pitching sometime in mid-May or June.
Dodgers fans are eagerly waiting to watch Ohtani pitch in Dodger Blue. The Dodgers are also predicted to pursue free agent Kike Hernandez.
