How the Texas Rangers saved the salaries of MLB players
The 2023 MLB World Series was a tale of two teams. A team that had gone all in, spending big money and signing many big-name free agents, vs a team that made no effort to spend.
To make it to the World Series, the Diamondbacks had to beat 3 teams. The Brewers, whose payroll was just above the Diamondbacks, the Dodgers, who had a payroll of $238 million, and the Phillies, with a payroll of $245 million.
The Diamondbacks would easily handle the Brewers, sweep the Dodgers, and edge out the Phillies with a game 7 victory.
After those battles, the Diamondbacks would face a team with an even higher payroll than the Dodgers and Phillies. The Texas Rangers. Out of all the teams in the postseason, the Rangers, Phillies, and Dodgers had the highest payrolls.
If the Diamondbacks, who had the 4th lowest payroll out of all the playoff teams, could triumph over the top 3 postseason teams with the highest payroll, this would beg the question. Why should teams spend money if the teams that don’t spend have just as good a shot at winning it all?
The 2023 MLB season was filled with disappointment for many of the top-spending teams. The Mets, Yankees, and Padres, the three teams with the highest payrolls in the MLB, all missed the postseason. Meanwhile, the Rays and Orioles, who had the 4th and 2nd lowest payrolls respectively, both made the postseason.
The disappointment for the top-spending teams only increased throughout the postseason with the D-backs beating the Dodgers and Phillies en route to a World Series appearance. If the Diamondbacks could beat the Rangers, what would this tell owners? Why should they sacrifice their profit margin to win a World Series when a team with low payroll like the Diamondbacks can win one over them?
After seeing what a disaster of a year it was for the high-spending teams during the 2023 MLB season, had the Diamondbacks come out on top, would more teams take the Diamondbacks’ approach and cut their payroll? Probably. That is why players can thank the Texas Rangers for beating the Diamondbacks, showing to owners that it is still worth it to spend big money in free agency if they want to chase a World Series trophy.
