TORONTO – Here’s a fun fact about this 2025 World Series as the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers assemble in advance of Game 1 on Oct. 24:
The bloated, biggest-money Dodgers and Blue Jays, who have similarly boundless resources yet apparently go about their upper middle class lives the right way, have the same number of homegrown players drafted, signed or developed on their active rosters.
Yeah, it’s kind of hard to believe, what with the narrative that L.A. has bought its way into prosperity as it aims to become the first team to repeat as World Series champions since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees.
Make no mistake, the Dodgers’ big-market status and nearly unparalleled resources – leading to a total salary and tax outlay of nearly $600 million, according to Spotrac – is a significant factor in their success.
Yet it is more harmonic convergence, a marriage of resources, smarts and desire, and a number of major league franchises could significantly replicate many elements of the operation. That, however, is easier said than done, which is why the New York Mets are teeing up their Titleists and not ordering poutine for the table this weekend.
