The Los Angeles Dodgers are doing great, but the response to their achievements has ignited one of the largest debates in the sports world. Their payroll for 2025 has soared to $350 million, according to salary tracking data from October 31, making it the highest ever in MLB history. With Shohei Ohtani at $700 million, Mookie Betts locked in with a 12-year deal, and mid-season signings like Kyle Tucker and Tarik Skubal, it’s clear why fans believe the playing field is uneven.
The Toronto Blue Jays battled hard with a $220 million payroll, but they couldn't quite match the depth of their competition. That's when the accusations started rolling in. Social media was buzzing with posts alleging that the Dodgers are undermining competitive balance. Some even forecasted a labor conflict. But just four days after winning the championship, GM Brandon Gomes took a stand to counter the narrative. Speaking with Jon Heyman at Camelback Ranch, he asserted that the sport is thriving and competition hasn't vanished. Gomes emphasized the unpredictability of postseason baseball and praised the Blue Jays for their thorough preparation. He also highlighted the team's strong 28-12 finish despite facing injuries. Now, the league is grappling with a tough question. Are the Dodgers a problem, or are they simply better at the game?
Los Angeles Dodgers GM points to record-high ratings while rejecting the ruining baseball claimOn November 5, 2025—just four days after the championship—Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes finally spoke up during a chat with MLB Network insider Jon Heyman. From the team's Camelback Ranch facility in Arizona, Gomes brushed off the whole "ruining" story using a mix of stats and his own thoughts.
"I don’t think so," Gomes told Heyman. He continued, "Sounds like the ratings are as high as they’ve ever been. It’s not like we just walked through the regular season by any means. From where the expectations were to where we ended up, pretty big gap. But I think that’s the beauty of the game, that there is no, like, you just do X and you know that the output is going to be Y. People are playing the game. There’s a ton of variance in what we do."
Gomes pointed out how tough it is to succeed in the postseason, highlighting the strengths of the Blue Jays, "Other teams are really good, too and it’s really hard to get here. The Blue Jays were a great team, incredibly well prepared. That offense was, like, relentless. It’s good for baseball and, like, there is more parity than there is in any other sport."
This response aligns with what Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers' president of baseball operations, said in a September 2025 episode of the Dodgers Digest podcast, where he chatted with host David Vassegh, "Our goal is to compete every day, but wins come from execution, not just checks."
Friedman's comments, which you can find on the team's official website, hinted at Gomes' defense by highlighting how the Dodgers bounced back from a slump in mid-August during the 2025 regular season, finishing strong with a 28-12 record despite injuries to important players like Freddie Freeman.
Also Read: Davis Schneider’s father celebrates son’s first-pitch home run in World Series Game 5 at Dodger Stadium
The Toronto Blue Jays battled hard with a $220 million payroll, but they couldn't quite match the depth of their competition. That's when the accusations started rolling in. Social media was buzzing with posts alleging that the Dodgers are undermining competitive balance. Some even forecasted a labor conflict. But just four days after winning the championship, GM Brandon Gomes took a stand to counter the narrative. Speaking with Jon Heyman at Camelback Ranch, he asserted that the sport is thriving and competition hasn't vanished. Gomes emphasized the unpredictability of postseason baseball and praised the Blue Jays for their thorough preparation. He also highlighted the team's strong 28-12 finish despite facing injuries. Now, the league is grappling with a tough question. Are the Dodgers a problem, or are they simply better at the game?
Los Angeles Dodgers GM points to record-high ratings while rejecting the ruining baseball claimOn November 5, 2025—just four days after the championship—Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes finally spoke up during a chat with MLB Network insider Jon Heyman. From the team's Camelback Ranch facility in Arizona, Gomes brushed off the whole "ruining" story using a mix of stats and his own thoughts.
"I don’t think so," Gomes told Heyman. He continued, "Sounds like the ratings are as high as they’ve ever been. It’s not like we just walked through the regular season by any means. From where the expectations were to where we ended up, pretty big gap. But I think that’s the beauty of the game, that there is no, like, you just do X and you know that the output is going to be Y. People are playing the game. There’s a ton of variance in what we do."
Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes answered here if the Dodgers are ruining baseball. (They’re not!) It was fun going over one of the best World Series ever played in full cast!
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 6, 2025
YouTube: https://t.co/1R2DfG8ZL0
Apple: https://t.co/FejaVASO9z
Spotify: https://t.co/KTM7bNStCG pic.twitter.com/9QtlOc6p2B
Gomes pointed out how tough it is to succeed in the postseason, highlighting the strengths of the Blue Jays, "Other teams are really good, too and it’s really hard to get here. The Blue Jays were a great team, incredibly well prepared. That offense was, like, relentless. It’s good for baseball and, like, there is more parity than there is in any other sport."
This response aligns with what Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers' president of baseball operations, said in a September 2025 episode of the Dodgers Digest podcast, where he chatted with host David Vassegh, "Our goal is to compete every day, but wins come from execution, not just checks."
Friedman's comments, which you can find on the team's official website, hinted at Gomes' defense by highlighting how the Dodgers bounced back from a slump in mid-August during the 2025 regular season, finishing strong with a 28-12 record despite injuries to important players like Freddie Freeman.
Also Read: Davis Schneider’s father celebrates son’s first-pitch home run in World Series Game 5 at Dodger Stadium
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