After the LA Dodgers 2025 World Series win and a predicted 3-peat, many opposing teams fans argue that they are “ruining baseball”. This thoughtless claim disregards that the Dodgers have continued to elevate the standard for the MLB.
With a stacked roster including Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, critics argue that the Dodgers significant spending due to signing top free agents, and constructing an unbeatable lineup creates a disadvantage for lower market teams. This point simply ignores the fact that these transactions are all within the MLB’s Basic Agreement.
“I think that people who believe the Dodgers are ruining baseball are fans of teams that don’t know how to spend their money, or spend their money, but don’t know how to build a team,” stated Ms. Lund, QUEST Geometry teacher.
The LA Dodgers are at the top of their division and with this they continue to acquire star players such as Edwin Diaz who was signed for a 3-year, $69 million contract. As well as Kyle Tucker, who agreed to a 4-year, $240 million deal. The Dodgers are simply maximizing their financial decisions, which pushes other teams to catch up.
In an interview on the Dan Patrick Show, “The Yankees did that in baseball. You could say that’s the Dodgers now. Having a dragon to slay isn’t necessarily a bad thing for the sport. We want to beat the Dodgers and we want to be at the top of the division. One day we want to be the dragon to slay,” stated San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer.
In our current era the MLB’s “dragon to slay” are the LA Dodgers as they build a dynasty. This labeling as a villainous franchise by critics dismisses the influence and significant contributions that they bring to the league. Their success is not based on money, but a result of effective leadership and player developmental systems.
The Dodgers have increased attention and viewership in recent years, internationally and domestically. They are a driving force for the national profile of the MLB as the Dodgers are recognized as one of the most globally well known sports franchises. The argument that the Dodgers are “ruining baseball” fails to acknowledge that they have revolutionized the sport.
Sarah Buss • Mar 6, 2026 at 10:34 am
I appreciated this recent piece discussing the idea of the Los Angeles Dodgers, “Ruining Baseball.” It’s a conversation that has become very common after their recent World Series wins. However, I think this article did a good job of highlighting that this dynasty is not destroying MLB. Instead, it’s actually revolutionizing the sport of baseball. What stood out the most was the way the author reframed these harsh, critical ideas and made them into reasons for how the Dodgers are benefiting the league. Instead of responding emotionally, the author factually backed up her argument so that she was a credible author, particularly by pointing out that the Dodgers formally follow the MLB’s Basic Agreement Act. This does a good job of shifting the tone from accusatory to more authentic. The author also did a fine job by using specific examples to prove her point. My mentioning important players that many people know, like Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, it acknowdleges the Dodgers star power but proves how strategic the owners and coaches of the Dodgers are in acquiring such valuable players who will continually help get more wins. Including the quote from the San Francisco Giants CEO, about having a “Dragon to Slay”, was effective because it shows that even rival teams can acknowledge the abilities of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Overall, the article offered a balanced perspective on a debate that often sparks strong emotions and opinions. Terrazas created a compelling argument that helps to elevate the sport of baseball as a whole.
Sincerely,
Sarah Buss
Kayden Franco • Mar 5, 2026 at 1:06 pm
The writer starts with a very hooking title. They start off by stating why people think the Dodgers are ruining the sport. They spend much more money than everyone else. It seems unfair just looking at it, but the writer explains that all of the transactions that they make is within the MLB’s Basic Agreement. Ms. Lund states that, “I think that people who believe the Dodgers are ruining baseball are fans of teams that don’t know how to spend their money, or spend their money, but don’t know how to build a team”. I fully agree with this statement because everyteam has the ability to spend money. Most teams refuse to spend money altogether. The author later states that the Yankees did the same thing back in the day. While I agree that the Yankees did the same thing, the Dodgers took it a step further by deferring all the money from the contracts they give their players. This allows the Dodgers to not have to pay their players 20-30 million dollars a year, but instead pay 1 million per year for much longer. The writer did a good job on the article, but I think they left out a couple key points that most baseball fans are mad about.
Charlotte Bly • Mar 3, 2026 at 1:19 pm
Terrazas wrote a very interesting article about the concept of the LA Dodgers ruining baseball. Her title grabbed my attention by asking a controversial question, which made me want to read more about what her personal opinion is. She uses many facts, such as the star baseball players that are on the Dodgers team, and quotes by a CEO from another baseball team. This gave structure to her article and allowed the reader to trust her information.
Not only did Tarrazas use a personal interview so she could have other people’s opinions in her article, but she uses a CEO’s quote to support the claim that the Dodgers are not ruining baseball. She claims that instead of “ruining baseball,” the Dodgers simply know how to spend their money and create a strong team. Using a personal interview gave more depth to her article and allowed a connection to be made with the readers, since many readers might have that teacher.
Lastly, Tarrazas finishes off her article in a beautiful way by summing up all her information and making a final claim that people fail to acknowledge that the Dodgers aren’t ruining baseball but simply revolutionizing the sport. Although this article was well formatted and very entertaining, one thing that I would recommend for next time is to add a counterclaim. This would add some more controversy and diversity to her argument.
Tyler Cover • Mar 3, 2026 at 11:19 am
I absolutely agree with the assertion that the Dodgers are not to blame for the lack of parity in baseball, but rather it lies on the shoulders of bad organizations, specifically the owners, who see their teams as a way to squeeze out more money for themselves. I’ve had many a talk with my grandfather about this exact subject, and it seems that the both of us agree on this topic as well. First of all, even other players from other MLB teams have voiced their opposition for a salary cap, as well as opposition for blaming the Dodgers for ‘ruining baseball’. Bryce Harper of the Phillies, for example, has said that he loves what the Dodgers are doing, and in fact thinks it adds competitiveness to baseball. Even more, the one man all Dodger fans hate, Manny Machado of the Padres, doesn’t see a problem with the spending.
Although the Dodgers do make quite a bit more money than the other teams, it’s because of the precedent the owners have set about loving the team. Magic Johnson, famed LA Laker, is one of the managing interests in the Dodgers organization, and still shows up to nearly every game. In all, the Dodgers reinvest an annual 73% of their revenue back onto their payroll, whereas the Chicago Cubs, who make a decent 584 million in revenue per year, only put 36.4% of it back into the team. It is my opinion that you can’t blame them for also having the Japanese market root for you as well, as it wasn’t something just handed to the organization.
Matteo Montiel • Mar 3, 2026 at 11:12 am
I liked how the author incorporated a counterargument that was quickly defeated by a strong rebuttal. Also, the author’s use of direct examples and links to sources in the text made it easier to comprehend contextually. The author’s use of citations and outside opinions on the topic was admirable. As a lifelong Dodger fan and sports fan, I think the people who believe the Dodgers are ruining the sport might also believe a villain is ruining a superhero movie. Some adversity and great challenges are good for the sport, and it would be boring without them. I know it may be frustrating to fans of the other teams in the MLB who do not have the same success, but don’t take it out on our franchise, as it is their owners, leadership, and money management that don’t allow them to have a good roster. As wisely mentioned in the article, there have been teams like this before, and there will continue to be in the future.
Sadie Albert • Mar 3, 2026 at 10:04 am
Although I might not agree completely with this article I must give credit where credit is due. It is very informational and it is clear that Terrazas is very knowledgeable on the subject. She included facts that are very useful and paints a clear picture for anyone who does not already have background knowledge on the situation. It was well written and an easy read.
I totally agree with your idea that some teams are just irresponsible with their money which can really hurt the franchise. It is totally up to the owners and managers if they are willing to be smart with their money and build a competitive team. As an Angels fan, it hurts when our managers and owners spend big money on a player who doesn’t even want to be there or when our owner Arte Moreno comes out in an interview and says winning isn’t even a top five priority. Being smart with money and having a desire to win makes all the difference and all you can do is applaud the Dodgers for wanting to win. They are the new goal and standard for all of baseball.
Now I would love to hear your thoughts on a salary cap for baseball. Although all of the players and Dodger fans would hate it, would it be better for baseball? If you implemented a salary cap like the NFL, every season would be a lot more competitive. There would be no more dynasties like what the Yankees had and what the Dodgers are building. Every season would be exciting for every team and fan. The World Series would be up for grabs for everyone. This might be the Angle fan in me talking, but I think if every team, every year, had a chance at the title baseball would be a lot more exciting.
Daniel Padilla Luna • Mar 3, 2026 at 9:48 am
As a Dodgers fan, I personally really appreciate this article as it provides context to why people believe the organization is ruining the sport while also providing clarification and rebutting these claims people are making. Terrazas provides accurate information through the players on the current Dodgers roster as well as the newest signings they made in this recent offseason while also including the contract details. She also continues to mention throughout her article that the Dodgers aren’t “ruining” baseball but rather going above and beyond to build their roster, properly spending their money and instead revolutionizing the sport of baseball as the team has become known internationally and has brought in viewers and fans from all over the world.
I also greatly condemn the integration of other people’s perspectives and points of views on the matter and what they believe the Dodgers are doing to the sport of baseball. Terrazas includes the thoughts of QUEST Geometry teacher Ms. Lund, who believes that other teams in the MLB don’t know how to properly spend their money, which is an opinion I heavily agree with, and it allows me to connect with the article. She also includes interviews from the Dan Patrick Show in which the CEO of the San Francisco Giants organization commented on the Dodgers and his view of what the Dodgers are in the MLB currently. The inclusion of these perspectives provides the audience with the views from others that can influence their thoughts and opinions on the matter as well, through connections or differences in opinion.
Overall, I believe that this article is very informative and well written, providing excellent information about the Dodgers organization and what other organizations and people think about their team. This article provides readers with proper context on the Dodgers and their roster and why people may believe they may be “ruining” baseball. Whether readers are unfamiliar or knowledgeable about the MLB and what occurs within the league, this article connects to everyone, and lets them all to build their own opinions on whether or not the Dodgers are affecting baseball negatively or positively.
Aubrie Jones • Mar 3, 2026 at 9:39 am
First, before even reading the article, I liked Alyssa’s title which grabbed my attention almost immediately with a somewhat controversial question as a Dodger fan. In the article, she starts off with the context of the Dodgers and how they have won the World Series two times in a row and a predicted third time. She says that many opposing teams believe that they are “ruining” baseball for others by their good roster and players such as Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. She also asks other people for their opinions, like Ms. Lund for example. Lund says, “I think that people who believe the Dodgers are ruining baseball are fans of teams that don’t know how to spend their money, or spend their money, but don’t know how to build a team,” I like how she asked for someone else’s perspective because in the article, her opinion is that the Dodgers aren’t ruining baseball. I also like how she uses credible sources like the Dan Patrick Show and links to outside sources like the official MLB website to make her claim even more credible and stronger. Overall, I think this article is really good. However, to make it even better, I would add a counterclaim about how they potentially are ruining the baseball franchise and I would also ask a fan of another baseball team, who aren’t rivals, for their perspective on the claim as well.
Jacob Ekk • Mar 3, 2026 at 9:36 am
I agree with Terrazas’ statement on how the Dodgers are “a driving force for the national profile of the MLB as the Dodgers are recognized as one of the most globally well-known sports franchises.” The signing of Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million contract on December 11, 2023, changed the global scale of the MLB. Moreover, Big names like Ohtani, Soto, and Guerrero Jr. have attracted millions of fans from all over the world. More big-name players equals more fans for the Dodgers, resulting in more exposure for the league. The Dodgers should keep on signing top free agents because it benefits them and the league. Individuals who claim that they ruin baseball due to their stacked lineups forget that many other MLB teams choose not to invest in their own squads. These naysayers hate the Dodgers because they ain’t the Dodgers. Finally, to answer Terrazas’ question, the Dodgers are only benefiting the league and themselves by choosing to invest in a team that will win them a World Series.
Hadley Becksfort • Mar 3, 2026 at 9:31 am
Terrazas explained how a lot of baseball fans are complaining that the Dodgers are ruining baseball because they are setting the standards of MLB too high. As a person who does not watch baseball, but only listens to what others say about it, I have learned that the Dodgers are the team to beat. In Terrazas’ article, I learned that the Dodgers are spending their money well and are acquiring some of the best players which helps them win so many games. It was also interesting to learn what the opinions were from other MLB fans and the CEO of the San Francisco Giants. The CEO of the Giants, Larry Baer, explained how the Yankees used to be the team to beat or “the dragon to slay”. Now Baer says that the Dodgers have become the dragon to slay, in which every team is going to try to take down.
Additionally, Terrazas mentioned how the attention has increased for MLB because of the Dodgers rising fame. Personally, I can agree with that statement because before the Dodgers winning the 2025 World Series, I had never heard of any baseball team or was interested in the sport at all. Now I can say that baseball is very intense and that it is true that viewership of the MLB has increased, and will continue to rise as the Dodgers go into their next season. Lastly, Terrazas had said that the Dodgers are not ruining baseball, and they have actually revolutionized the sport. I believe that Terrazas has captured the honesty of what the Dodgers are doing for the sport, and I know that more people will come back to watching baseball because of the Dodgers’ rise.
Ava Von Hoene • Mar 2, 2026 at 1:25 pm
On February 26, Alyssa Terrazas wrote an article titled “Are the Dodgers Ruining Baseball”? Fundamentally, this article could be very controversial since our school is positioned in Long Beach, CA, but I think that it is a topic that should not be ignored. The new players signing with the Dodgers, including Edwin Diaz and Kyle Tucker, questions my opinion regaurding if the team really is violating the MLB basic agreement, even though it is very fun to watch your home team win. Although it may not be a concern to us, it may be to others. There is a chance that this unbeatable team may cause a lot of riot for the MLB, and as someone who has family in the baseball world, they are not too happy about the Dodgers. I, and other sources from my family and friends do debate about the topic of this unbeatable team, and depending on how they do next season, I wonder how long it will take for this issue to rise in the baseball world. Even though many people living in LA County may not be concerned about the issue, this article does make me question what the professionals have to say about the team. Are they going to sign a 4-year contract, or continue to lose to the unbeatable team?
Sincerely,
Ava Von Hoene
Carlee Zabel • Mar 2, 2026 at 1:23 pm
I really enjoyed reading this article, and Terrazas did a great job defending her viewpoint on the issue. As a lifelong Dodgers fan, the title of this article piqued my interest. Terrazas has a unique way of captivating her audience from the very beginning. I also thought that the addition of direct quotes from both Dodgers fans and rivals was very insightful, and adds to the authenticity of this article. Throughout the article, there is lots of specific information and evidence that both supports Terrazas’s point and assures the reader that she did her research well. Regardless of whether the audience reading this article are or aren’t fans of the Dodgers, Terrazas lays out the information in a factual and well thought out manner. She even provides hope for opposing teams that while the Dodgers are dominating in Major League Baseball currently, there is always a “dragon to slay”. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this article and I found the author’s work to be very well articulated and interesting.
Aldo Garcia • Mar 2, 2026 at 1:22 pm
On February 26, 2026 Alyssa Terrazas wrote an article, “Are the Dodgers Ruining Baseball?”Your writer is talking about a great topic. Really relevant after the last world series and all sorts of questions about a salary cap. I do like how the writer got the opinion of a teacher here at Millikan, however I think that a good interview opportunity could have been one of the baseball coaches like Keester. Ms. Lund’s quote doesn’t seem to realize that not every team has the type of money to sign whoever they want. Teams have budgets, the Dodgers just have a really high one. I appreciate the quote from San Fransicsco Giants CEO Larry Baer, he runs a major league team himself but doesn’t think the Dodger situation is necessarily a bad thing, but rather just a challenge or final boss. All of the photos are good and relevant. I would agree that the Dodgers have played a large role in increasing viewership in major league baseball. I think part of that could also be the rules implemented to make the game go a bit faster.
Oliver Sammelius • Mar 2, 2026 at 1:18 pm
This article does a fantastic job of making a case for the Los Angeles Dodgers and their building of a baseball dynasty. When tasked with the question of whether or not the Los Angeles Dodgers are ruining major league baseball by “purchasing” championships, the author makes her opinion known and persuades the reader into looking at the question from her perspective. In addition, the use of a quote from the CEO of the rival San Francisco Giants, which defends the Dodgers builds credibility for the author’s argument. To add on, the usage of the MLB’s Basic Agreement in the argument further establishes credibility as the author’s claims are reinforced by official MLB rules. However, I believe that the implementation of a counterargument and then rebuttal into the argument would be beneficial and further persuade the reader. Overall, this is a very strong, persuasive article, and it was an interesting read.
Jack walsh • Mar 2, 2026 at 1:18 pm
Over the past decade and a half, the Dodgers have risen to the top of the baseball world. Appearing in the World Series 5 times during that period, winning 3 of them. Being in one of the richest markets in the United States, the Dodgers and their owner have been able to spend copious amounts of money on the best players in the league. Essentially, creating a super team. Though this “super team” hasn’t come without controversy. In the MLB, there is no rule stating a salary cap or salary floor. This allows the Dodgers to spend as much money as possible and get the best players in free agency. Teams in weaker markets and their fans have felt that this is unfair and that the Dodgers are “ruining baseball.” Though their problem could be easily solved if their team went out and spent the money that it takes to sign these top players. In addition, if it got to a point where every other team in the league felt the need to incorporate a solution to the Dodgers’ success, a salary cap and floor would easily solve it. It would force teams unwilling to spend big to spend a minimum amount of money, and also force teams like the Dodgers to limit their spending. As a result, more teams would end up with higher-quality players around the league. The Dodgers aren’t necessarily ruining baseball; they are simply doing what it takes to win.
Sarah Buss • Mar 2, 2026 at 11:23 am
On February 26, 2026, Alyssa Terrazas wrote an article titled “Are the Dogers Ruining Baseball”? I appreciated this recent piece discussing the idea of the Los Angeles Dodgers, “Ruining Baseball.” It’s a conversation that has become very common after their recent World Series wins. However, I think this article did very well by highlighting that this dynasty is not destroying the MLB. Instead, it’s actually revolutionizing the sport of baseball.
What stood out the most was the way the author reframed these harsh, critical ideas and made them into reasons for how the Dodgers are benefiting the league. Instead of responding emotionally, the author factually backed up her argument so that she was a credible author, particularly by pointing out that the Dodgers formally follow the MLB’s Basic Agreement Act. This does a good job of shifting the tone from accusatory to more authentic.
The author also did a fine job by using specific examples to prove her point. My mentioning important players that many people know, like Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, it acknowdleges the Dodgers star power but proves how strategic the owners and coaches of the Dodgers are in acquiring such valuable players who will continually help get more wins. Including the quote from the San Francisco Giants CEO, about having a “Dragon to Slay”, was effective because it shows that even rival teams can acknowledge the abilities of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Overall, the article contributed a balanced perspective to a debate that often sparks lots of emotions and opinions from within. Terrazas created a compelling argument that helps to elevate the sport of baseball as a whole.
Sincerely,
Sarah Buss
Cassidy Kepler • Mar 2, 2026 at 11:09 am
Terrazas does an excellent job at breaking down the argument that the Dodgers are ruining baseball by explaining not only her opinion but also the possible opposing opinion. As someone who watches baseball and tries to keep up with the sport season to season, it is nice to read an article that talks about the growth of the league itself. Her usage of examples regarding players and coaches, such as the coaches from the Giants, allows for her credibility to grow as a reader. One of the only things that I had questions about was when Terrazas referred to the “MLB’s Basic Agreement” and the meaning behind that. Personally, I only watch the actual game being played, so I do not have too much prior knowledge on any of the financial rules or implications. Other than that, I believe that Terrazas did a great job at setting up the context from the World Series, discussing the Dodgers talented roster, and referring back to other teams that have done the same thing and admire the Dodgers for their talent and formidability.