Dodgers lead NL West in spending, Rockies low budget

The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to lead the National League West in spending, maintaining their dominance in the division. They have won the NL West 11 times in the last 12 years and are favored to win again in 2025. Their payroll for the season is projected to be $308 million, second only to the New York Mets. This winter, the Dodgers signed ace Blake Snell to a five-year contract worth $182 million. In contrast, the Arizona Diamondbacks also made headlines by landing Corbin Burnes for six years at $210 million, the highest rotation expenditure in the division. Meanwhile, the Colorado Rockies and other teams are opting for younger, less expensive talent. They are expected to pay around $800,000 for their closers. The Padres and Dodgers, however, have opted for higher salaries, totaling $10 million and $12.8 million for their respective pitchers. When it comes to catching, the Dodgers pay two-time All-Star Will Smith significantly more than the total combined salaries of starting catchers from four other NL West teams. The Rockies' second-highest-paid catcher, Jacob Stallings, earns only $2 million. The Rockies are in a youth movement, featuring players like Michael Toglia, who slugged 25 homers last season for a mere $800,000. His peers in the division, such as Freddie Freeman of the Dodgers, earn significantly more at $22.7 million. The spending varies across positions, with the highest-paid second baseman in the division being Arizona’s Ketel Marte at $16.6 million. For shortstop, the Rockies’ Ezequiel Tovar was highlighted for his exceptional defensive skills at just $4.2 million. Third base sees the Rockies' Ryan McMahon earning $12 million, much lower compared to other teams like the Giants who pay Matt Chapman $25.2 million. The teams generally pay their center fielders at the minimum salary, except for the Dodgers’ Enrique Hernandez, who earns $6.5 million. In right field, the Padres are paying Fernando Tatis Jr. $20.7 million while the Rockies seek to fill the position with players earning the league minimum. Finally, the Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani contract, spanning 10 years for $700 million, remains notable for its deferred payments, impacting their payroll strategy well into the next decade.