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The Los Angeles Dodgers shattered the MLB spending record for the 2025 season, reclaiming their title as the highest spenders. This follows a brief period where the New York Mets held the record in 2024.
Apr 8, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) pitches to the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been known for spending large amounts on their roster in recent years, but in 2024, the New York Mets took the big-spending crown.
Much like the last two World Series titles, though, the record is back in Los Angeles, and itâs expected to stay there.
In a first for baseball, the half-billion dollar mark was breached last season.
Between the Dodgersâ $345.3 million payroll and $169.4 luxury tax, the Boys in Blue racked up a $514.7 million bill, as detailed by the Associated Press.
Just the year before in 2024, the Mets had set the mark at $430.4 million, the third straight year theyâd topped all MLB teams.
Apr 8, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) pitches to the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
But in 2025, their total spending increased only slightly, up to $433.7 million, including a payroll of $342.1 million, just $3.2 million below that of the Dodgers.
The difference between the total spending for the Dodgers and Mets in 2025: $81 million.
Donât expect the gap to remain that large, though.
The APâs projections have the Dodgers again edging the Mets with the 2026 seasonâs expenses, but both are expected to fall a bit short of the half-billion dollar mark.
âLos Angeles is projected as of MLBâs opening-day figures to lead in 2026 spending with a $323.3 million payroll for its 40-man roster and a $163.7 million tax for a $487.1 million total,â the report explained. âThe Mets began with a record payroll at $358.4 million and have a projected tax of $124.1 million for a $482.5 million spend.â
So for this season, the Dodgersâ expenditures are expected to fall $27.6 million.
The Mets, meanwhile, are expected to increase expenditures by about $48.8 million.
All that extra spending hasnât helped, though.
As Newsdayâs Mets reporter Laura Albanese noted on social media, âsince June 13 of last year, the Mets have been on a 107 loss pace.â
And when the Mets (7-13) came to Los Angeles earlier this week, the result was a three-game sweep by the Boys in Blue.
So while the teamsâ payrolls might look the same, the product on the field looks worlds apart.
The exact spending amount for the Dodgers in the 2025 MLB season has not been specified in the excerpt.
The New York Mets held the MLB spending record before the Dodgers reclaimed it in 2025.
The Dodgers have won the last two World Series titles prior to the 2025 season.

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