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$500 million los angeles dodgersThrilling victory over the World Series toronto The Blue Jays attracted record international attention for Major League Baseball, reaffirming L.A.’s status as the game’s best team and drawing more attention to baseball’s payroll inequality amid what are likely to be contentious labor negotiations.
Los Angeles’ 5-4, 11-inning victory over Toronto in Game 7 on Saturday night limited the postseason to seven winner-take-all games, two more than last year.
shohei ohtani With his phenomenal two-way performance, he has been captivating audiences outside the US unlike any previous player, staking his claim as the game’s best ever player.
The baseball commissioner said, “This is certainly the biggest benefit to the game that you can imagine all year.” Rob Manfred,
Toronto’s success this year sparked interest across Canada, leading to nationwide support for the Blue Jays.
Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt Jr., Paul Skenes and Cal Raley have already committed to play for the United States in next year’s World Baseball Classic, with interest growing with each addition.
And mlb The Big League is in talks to send players to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics during the extended All-Star break.
“Players are interested in playing, whether it’s for Team USA or any other team around the world,” union head Tony Clark said.
The Dodgers are already talking about a three-peat
Minutes after the Dodgers became defending champions for the first time since the 1998–2000 New York Yankees, Dodgers star Freddy Freeman said matching the Pinstriped Power was the next goal.
“The Yankees are back-to-back three times,” he said, “so we’ll get a chance to use the same narrative next year.”
Those Yankees are among only four examples of teams that have won three or more consecutive championships, including five by the 1949–53 Yankees, four by the 1936–39 Yankees, and three by the 1972–74 Oakland Athletics.
Big market spending sparks discussion of salary-cap proposal
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts attracted attention after a victory in the National League Championship Series in Milwaukee when he shouted to Los Angeles fans: “They said the Dodgers are ruining baseball. Let’s get four more wins and really ruin baseball!”
Los Angeles entered the World Series having spent $509.5 million in major league payroll and estimated luxury tax, plus an additional $6.5 million for pitcher Roky Sasaki’s minor league signing bonus.
Including Sasaki’s bonus, the Dodgers totaled at least $890 million for their two World Series title teams. The New York Mets, who failed to reach the playoffs this year after being eliminated in the NLCS last year, have spent about $860 million in 2024 and ’25.
An indication of how much the payroll disparity has grown is that athletics spent less than $150 million over the same period.
Manfred has repeatedly said the owners have not reached agreement on their labor proposals, but the players’ union is prepared to oppose demands for a salary cap. Limit demands from owners led to a 7 1/2 month strike in 1994–95 and the World Series being canceled for the first time in 90 years.
The labor contract expires Dec. 2, 2026, and bargaining is expected to begin this winter or spring.
More Japanese players likely to head to MLB
Following the success of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki, more Japanese players may sign with MLB teams.
Munetaka Murakami, a third baseman and first baseman who will turn 26 in February, is expected to be posted up by the Yakult Swallows. He hit .273 with 22 homers and 47 RBI this year, being limited to 56 games due to an oblique injury. A two-time Central League MVP, in 2022 he hit 56 homers to break Sadaharu Oh’s record for a Japanese-born player, while becoming the youngest player to earn Japan’s Triple Crown.
Kazuma Okamoto, 29-year-old third baseman and first baseman. Will be posted by Yomiuri Giants. He has 248 homers in 11 Central League seasons, hitting 30 or more from 2018-23.
27-year-old right-back Tatsuya Imai could be posted by Seibu Lions. He scored 17 against Yokohama on June 17, breaking Daisuke Matsuzaka’s previous team record of 16 from 2004.
here come the robots
Game 7 of the World Series was the last game in MLB with human umpires making all ball/strike calls.
Starting next season, an automated ball/strike system will be installed in all major league ballparks and batters, catchers and pitchers will be able to appeal the decision of a high-tech system of cameras tracking each pitch and deciding whether it crossed home plate within the strike zone.
Each team has the ability to challenge two calls per game and a team retains its challenge if successful, similar to the rules for video review that have been in place for multiple calls since 2014. Teams that complete their challenges receive an additional challenge in each additional innings.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb