Connect with us

Sports

Alex Rodriguez defends Dodgers’ big-spending roster amid possible lockout

Published

on

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

With a lockout more likely than not at this point in Major League Baseball, the ongoing debate continues over whether the Los Angeles Dodgers are actually ruining the sport.

Many believe the Dodgers have simply broken baseball, particularly with Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million contract, 97% of which is deferred. They have won back-to-back World Series titles and are the favorite for a third consecutive title.

Not only did Los Angeles follow up its titles by signing the most touted reliever on the market in Edwin Diaz, but it also gave Kyle Tucker a deal that gave him the highest annual average value of $60 million, the most for any position player ever.

Advertisement

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Alex Rodriguez reacts during the Seattle Mariners 50th Season Celebration at T-Mobile Park.

Alex Rodriguez reacts during the Seattle Mariners 50th Season Celebration at T-Mobile Park on Aug. 8, 2026, in Seattle, Washington. (Jack Compton/Getty Images)

However, former slugger Alex Rodriguez isn’t buying the negativity surrounding the organization.

“I think it’s great. You and I both would be hypocrites if we said it’s not good when we saw what happened in the ‘90s here in New York, what happened in ‘09 when Hal Steinbrenner flexed his financial resources to go out and get [CC] Sabathia, [Mark] Teixeira and A.J. Burnett, and the year before we had Johnny Damon,” A-Rod told New York Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay on the latter’s radio show.

Rodriguez does make an interesting point — in 2005, the Yankees’ payroll ($208.3 million, per Baseball Reference) was almost double the second-highest payroll (the Boston Red Sox’s $123.5 million). The New York Mets ($101.3 million) were the only other team to have a nine-digit payroll.

Advertisement

While the Dodgers have finessed their contracts through deferrals and bonuses to make their actual payroll less than the actual value of the contracts, numerous other teams are actually still in the comparative ballpark. The Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays each have a tax payroll of at least $300 million.

Rodriguez noted that it’s not necessarily the amount of money but how it’s spent.

Alex Rodriguez attends Yankees Old Timer's Day at Yankee Stadium.

Former New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez attends the team’s Old Timers’ Day prior to a game against the Colorado Rockies at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 24, 2024, in New York City. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

FORMER MLB STAR CALLS FOR SALARY FIX AS OWNERS, PLAYERS ASSOCIATION TALK ‘TWO DIFFERENT LANGUAGES’

“The key is not making the mistakes…” Rodriguez said, name-dropping Trent Grisham and Ryan McMahon, who are combining to make $38 million this season while hitting a combined .215 with an OPS below .700.

Advertisement

“You have to be able to determine what is your inventory and what is it worth. Gene Michael used to be able to hold on to Bernie [Williams], [Derek] Jeter, [Jorge] Posada. That’s the key — you got to hold on to your early guys, and then move on for the others, use them as assets to complement your current roster.”

Again, to Rodriguez’s point, the Milwaukee Brewers, whose $153 million tax payroll is 19th in the league, own the best record in Major League Baseball. The Tampa Bay Rays rank 27th in tax payroll yet have the league’s second-best record, while the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox rank 26th.

Furthermore, three of the top five payrolls in the sport — the Mets, Phillies and Blue Jays — are currently out of the postseason.

Alex Rodriguez celebrates after the Yankees' 7-3 win against the Phillies.

Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees celebrates after the Yankees’ 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York City, on Nov. 4, 2009. (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Advertisement

The current collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1, and players have insisted they would not play under a salary cap, which has been formally offered for the first time since 1994.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Sports

4 Stipulations WWE could add to Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton

Published

on

Randy Orton returned at SummerSlam and ruined Cody Rhodes’ chances of regaining the Undisputed WWE Championship against CM Punk. The Viper made his first appearance since WrestleMania 42 and took out Rhodes with an RKO.

On the August 7 episode of SmackDown, the two had a heated verbal exchange. Orton vowed never to let Rhodes become world champion again. Rhodes retaliated, saying that he doesn’t have to be the good guy anymore, and ended the segment with an interesting question: who ki**ls The Legend Ki**ler, Randy Orton?

Given how heated this feud has become, a singles match might not be enough to settle things between them. Here are four possible stipulations WWE could add to Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton.

Advertisement

#4. Last Man Standing

A Last Man Standing Match would suit this rivalry well. The match has no pinfalls or submissions. The only way to win is to leave your opponent unable to answer the referee’s ten-count.

That would allow WWE to make Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton’s rivalry much more physical. The Viper has always been known for slowly breaking down his opponents. Cody, meanwhile, has built his character around getting back up after every setback.

That could make the match a test of endurance. Orton could try to keep Rhodes down for good. The QB1 would have to survive everything The Viper throws at him. More importantly, The American Nightmare may have to show his own brutal side to finally put Orton down.


#3. No Holds Barred Match

A No Holds Barred Match could make the next meeting between Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes feel very different from their WrestleMania 42 bout. Their previous match had plenty of controversy, especially because of Pat McAfee‘s involvement. WWE could remove that issue completely with a match where there are no restrictions. There would be no disqualification and no count-out. Weapons would also be legal.

Advertisement

The Apex Predator could use anything he wants to hurt Rhodes. The veteran could finally settle his issues with his former protégé without worrying about the rules. Rhodes would have the same freedom. There would be no excuses this time. Just The American Nightmare and The Viper settling their differences.


#2. Street Fight

A Street Fight could give the next meeting between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton a different feel. Instead of looking like a traditional wrestling match, WWE could present it as a fight between two men who want to destroy each other.

The stipulation would also allow the two stars to take the fight outside the ring. Rhodes and Orton could brawl through the crowd, use weapons, and fight around the arena.


#1. Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes could have an “I Quit” Match

An I Quit Match would be the best option if WWE wants to make the next match between Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes their final chapter. There is already enough history between the two. Orton was Rhodes’ mentor years ago before their relationship fell apart. Earlier this year, Rhodes defeated The Apex Predator at WrestleMania 42. Orton later returned and attacked Rhodes, costing him the Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam.

Advertisement

An I Quit Match could finally settle everything. There would be no confusion over the winner. One man would have to make the other say “I Quit,” giving WWE a clear ending to the rivalry. It would also fit how personal things have become. Rhodes and Orton would not simply have to beat each other. One of them would have to force the other to admit defeat.