Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper knows the road to a long-awaited World Series title likely goes through the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets. Harper doesn’t fear the challenge, nor does he have any issue with either team’s recent spending.<\/p>\n
“I think it’s great for the players,” Harper told reporters Sunday. FanGraphs estimates the Dodgers’ payroll at $389 million, with the Mets not far behind at $331 million. Both teams have incorporated deferred payments into recent contracts.<\/p>\n
The Dodgers stayed busy after winning their second World Series in five seasons. Los Angeles signed two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell, Japanese starting pitcher Roki Sasaki, and relievers Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates for nearly $70 million annually.<\/p>\n
The Mets signed All-Star outfielder Juan Soto to a stunning 15-year, $765 million deal. Fresh off their first NLCS appearance since 2015, the Mets also retained slugging first baseman Pete Alonso and starter Sean Manaea.<\/p>\n
“You expect [the Dodgers] to go out and do those things just like the Yankees did in the 2000s,” Harper said, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “It’s what kind of team they are,” he continued. “They get guys that defer money and do things the right way. \u2026 Obviously, the Mets are doing the same thing.”<\/p>\n
3 Fans and pundits have suggested baseball fix the spending disparities. FanGraphs lists the rebuilding Marlins’ payroll at $70 million, over $300 million less than the Dodgers. Either way, it’s good to see Harper supporting teams spending to win. FanGraphs estimates the Phillies’ payroll is roughly $288 million, and they’ve made the postseason three straight years.<\/p>\n
Harper is one of seven Phillies making at least $20 million this season. Veteran starting pitcher Zack Wheeler leads the pack at $42 million after inking a three-year, $126 million extension last spring. We’ll see if Harper, Wheeler, and teammates validate their lofty paychecks with the franchise’s first championship since 2008.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper knows the road to a long-awaited World Series title likely goes through the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets. Harper… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":34971,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34970","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n