LA Dodgers Reportedly Poised to Add Payroll at MLB Trade Deadline

According to Jon Paul Morosi of MLB Network and FOX Sports, the Dodgers are amongst a list of MLB clubs who will be able to add significant figures to their payroll this trade deadline.

#Dodgers and #Yankees are poised to add payroll at this year's Trade Deadline — one major storyline to follow over the next two weeks. Here's my preview of @MLB's new-look deadline: https://t.co/lpajSrSyYp @MLBNetwork

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— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 15, 2019

The Dodgers have been able to maneuver their way into staying below the competitive balance tax threshold the last few seasons and thus have some leeway when it comes to spending money this off-season.

In a trade where the Dodgers would look to take on a mid-level sized contract, the club would not be forced to trade someone like Rich Hill, who is being paid $19,000,000 this season to quite possibly not pitch in October for Los Angeles. The Dodgers can afford to pay the small tax and would not incur significant penalties considering their status below the line.

Morosi writes:

One inverse of the sellers’ need to act is that buyers have greater spending capability now than in previous seasons, because of the way multiple big-spending clubs have brought their payrolls below the competitive balance tax threshold.

The Dodgers were looking at potentially adding big fish like Manny Machado or Bryce Harper this passed off-season, or Nolan Arenado next off-season. Now, because they did not (or cannot) spend that money, they have future spending power and a brighter future than almost any team in the league.

The club maintains the third-best farm system in baseball according to Fangraphs, the best record in baseball, and have $80 million or so coming off the books after this season. Some of that $80 million will of course be allocated back to the current club, with arbitration numbers jumping for many of the Dodgers’ younger players.

The time to spend is now.