The Dodgers have the highest payroll in baseball.
What’s interesting, though, is where that money is going. Or, not going as the case may be.
When you look at the players in their lineup, they seem to be sweeping their way through the post-season with virtual no-names.
Other than Yasiel Puig, whose gained fame and infamy for his antics, the Dodgers are doing their blitzkrieg through the NL playoffs with obscure guys, guys named Chris Taylor, Austin Barnes, Joc Pederson, Cody Bellinger, Enrique Hernandez, Charlie Culberson who is filling in for the injured Corey Seager, and Logan Forsythe. Even Justin Turner isn’t exactly a household name, although he is one of the best pure hitters in baseball.
Most of these guys are at major league minimum or a tick higher.
Seager: $575,000
Hernandez: $555,555
Culberson: $550,000
Barnes: $540,000
Pederson: $500,445
Taylor: $485,218
Bellinger: $476,480
Only three players who have been getting most of the starts in the Dodgers’ starting lineup make more than a million dollars a season: Forsythe at $7 million, Puig at $8.2 millon, Turner at $13 million (a steal).
Back-up catcher Yasmani Grandal is making $5.5 million. Back up second baseman Chase Utley, $2.25 million.
Then there’s Andre Ethier, who has been mostly a fifth outfielder, with his $17.5 million salary, Curtis Granderson who is a $15 million player off the bench, and Adrian Gonzalez, who’s $22.3 million are not even on the post-season roster.
Of course, the Dodgers are paying Clayton Kershaw $35.5 million a season, paying Scott Kazmir $17.6 million to be injured, still paying Carl Crawford $21 million and getting almost as good of production out of him retired as they did when he played for them. They’re still in to Matt Kemp for $3.75 million.
So much of the Dodgers MLB-high $265 million payroll is invested in players who aren’t contributing a thing.
It’s the cheap kids who are tearing it up.
And that has to be scary for baseball. Because, this is a team that has money to throw at their young stars. They certainly are not shy to throw it at guys who aren’t doing a thing to earn it.
It’s fun to watch so much good, young talent.
*****
TODAY’S GAME:
Clayton Kershaw (18-4, 2.31) vs Jose Quintana (11-11, 4.15)
Game time: 7:08 on TBS
How the Dodgers hit against Quintana.
How the Cubs hit against Kershaw.