In the late 1990s and early 2000s, when the free-spending New York Yankees ruled MLB, winning numerous World Series, then-Boston Red Sox president Larry Lucchino hung the tag "Evil Empire" on the Yanks.
It just rubbed Lucchino wrong that the Bronx Bombers would spare no expense in paying talent that enabled them to capture four Series titles.
Meanwhile, his BoSox club, which believed in developing their own less expensive players, was still in the throes of a century-long stretch without a Series championship to their credit.
Jealousy? Yeah, probably. But a lot of people in the baseball world echoed Lucchino's sentiments.
Well, move over Yankees, there's a new Evil Empire in MLB currently spending prolifically to capture World Series titles: the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Last winter, the Dodgers shelled out a then-record US$700 million to sign pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani.
Then this offseason they spent 471 million bucks to fill what they felt were their needs.
That's well over a billion dollars the past two years -- downright dastardly if you are a Lucchino convert.
The Dodgers gobbled up two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, signed their own free agent hurler Clayton Kershaw and inked the latest hotshot pitching prospect from Japan, Roki Sasaki, incumbent Dodger slugger Teoscar Hernandez, one of MLB's best closers in Tanner Scott and reliable-when-healthy outfielder Michael Conforto.
That represents quite a haul, my friend.
Yep, the Los Angeles Dodgers once again spared no expense in garnering talent. And why not? They've got the dough.
The Dodgers drew almost 4 million spectators to their Chavez Ravine ballpark last campaign.
They also have the most lucrative local television contract by far in Major League Baseball -- $8.35 billion over 25 years.
But the difference this offseason was that other teams tried to emulate the Dodger example.
What is it they say about imitation being the sincerest form of flattery?
The New York Mets certainly did their best in the copycat department, They even outdid the Dodgers in signing the offseason's hottest free agent: outfielder Juan Soto.
The Mets shelled out a new-record $765 million over the next 15 years for the slugging former Washington National, San Diego Padre and New York Yankee.
That's over three-quarter of a billion smackers for a guy to smack a baseball.
But the Mets didn't stop there in an attempt to beef up their attack, They also inked their own free agent first baseman Pete Alonso, the Mets all-time leader in home runs, for $54 million over two years.
Now, even the Boston Red Sox, who famously traded away star outfielder Mookie Betts before he became a too expensive free agent, have joined the Evil Empire in the spending game.
They have acquired former Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman for the relatively cheap price of $120 million for three years' work. Still, though, that's a stiff price for the recently short arms-deep pocketed BoSox.
Even the Arizona Diamondbacks joined the spending fray.
The D-Backs have sprung for a whopping 210 million bucks for ace hurler Corbin Burnes.
The New York Yankees, meanwhile, were still at their evil best this offseason, even though their free spending ways no longer yields the same kind of MLB championship results. The Yanks have not captured a World Series title since 2009.
They tried but failed to retain Soto, bidding "only" 700 million for his services.
Then, in dire need of a strong lefty starting pitcher, the Bronx Bombers opted to depart with $218 million over 8 years for the services of former Atlanta Braves southpaw Max Fried.
For good measure the Yankees spent big on also much-needed closer Devin Hill and ageing but still high-priced sluggers Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt.
So, for now at least, the reigning World Series winners, the Los Angeles Dodgers, best deserve the Evil Empire tag for free-spending their way to both titles and infamy.
Contact Wiggins' World at [email protected]
It just rubbed Lucchino wrong that the Bronx Bombers would spare no expense in paying talent that enabled them to capture four Series titles.
Meanwhile, his BoSox club, which believed in developing their own less expensive players, was still in the throes of a century-long stretch without a Series championship to their credit.
Jealousy? Yeah, probably. But a lot of people in the baseball world echoed Lucchino's sentiments.
Well, move over Yankees, there's a new Evil Empire in MLB currently spending prolifically to capture World Series titles: the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Last winter, the Dodgers shelled out a then-record US$700 million to sign pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani.
Then this offseason they spent 471 million bucks to fill what they felt were their needs.
That's well over a billion dollars the past two years -- downright dastardly if you are a Lucchino convert.
The Dodgers gobbled up two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, signed their own free agent hurler Clayton Kershaw and inked the latest hotshot pitching prospect from Japan, Roki Sasaki, incumbent Dodger slugger Teoscar Hernandez, one of MLB's best closers in Tanner Scott and reliable-when-healthy outfielder Michael Conforto.
That represents quite a haul, my friend.
Yep, the Los Angeles Dodgers once again spared no expense in garnering talent. And why not? They've got the dough.
The Dodgers drew almost 4 million spectators to their Chavez Ravine ballpark last campaign.
They also have the most lucrative local television contract by far in Major League Baseball -- $8.35 billion over 25 years.
But the difference this offseason was that other teams tried to emulate the Dodger example.
What is it they say about imitation being the sincerest form of flattery?
The New York Mets certainly did their best in the copycat department, They even outdid the Dodgers in signing the offseason's hottest free agent: outfielder Juan Soto.
The Mets shelled out a new-record $765 million over the next 15 years for the slugging former Washington National, San Diego Padre and New York Yankee.
That's over three-quarter of a billion smackers for a guy to smack a baseball.
But the Mets didn't stop there in an attempt to beef up their attack, They also inked their own free agent first baseman Pete Alonso, the Mets all-time leader in home runs, for $54 million over two years.
Now, even the Boston Red Sox, who famously traded away star outfielder Mookie Betts before he became a too expensive free agent, have joined the Evil Empire in the spending game.
They have acquired former Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman for the relatively cheap price of $120 million for three years' work. Still, though, that's a stiff price for the recently short arms-deep pocketed BoSox.
Even the Arizona Diamondbacks joined the spending fray.
The D-Backs have sprung for a whopping 210 million bucks for ace hurler Corbin Burnes.
The New York Yankees, meanwhile, were still at their evil best this offseason, even though their free spending ways no longer yields the same kind of MLB championship results. The Yanks have not captured a World Series title since 2009.
They tried but failed to retain Soto, bidding "only" 700 million for his services.
Then, in dire need of a strong lefty starting pitcher, the Bronx Bombers opted to depart with $218 million over 8 years for the services of former Atlanta Braves southpaw Max Fried.
For good measure the Yankees spent big on also much-needed closer Devin Hill and ageing but still high-priced sluggers Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt.
So, for now at least, the reigning World Series winners, the Los Angeles Dodgers, best deserve the Evil Empire tag for free-spending their way to both titles and infamy.
Contact Wiggins' World at [email protected]
