2025年美國職棒大聯盟（MLB）本季，道奇隊的高額薪資成為球迷與媒體討論的焦點。據報導，道奇全隊薪資總額達3.94億美元（約合台幣121億元），不僅高於本季第二名的大都會隊的3.4億美元，還比第三名洋基隊多出約1億美元。因此，道奇隊被部分球迷戲稱為「新邪惡帝國」，有人甚至批評道奇隊是「用錢買冠軍」，認為如此做法會破壞棒球運動的公平競爭精神。

然而，花大錢並不保證一定能取得成功。以往大筆投入的球隊如大都會和勇士隊，本季都未能晉級季後賽，這也凸顯高薪資與球場勝利之間並非完全對等的關係。對比之下，今年與道奇隊在國聯分區冠軍賽交手的釀酒人隊，其球團薪資僅約道奇的三分之一，雖然是季賽最佳的球隊但最終還是被道奇淘汰，這使球迷不免聯想到經典棒球電影《魔球》(Moneyball)中描述的奧克蘭運動家隊——連贏20場季賽卻始終無法奪冠的故事。

這一現象也引發球迷對於棒球薪資策略與競技公平性的討論。一方面，高薪資可以吸引明星球員、提高陣容深度，增加球隊爭冠的可能性；但另一方面，過度依賴金錢投入也可能削弱球隊的整體策略性，讓棒球變得像「金錢遊戲」，失去原有的競技魅力。

總體而言，本季道奇隊的薪資策略與球場表現，呈現出「花錢不一定能奪冠，但不花錢幾乎不可能奪冠」的矛盾現象，這不僅成為球迷茶餘飯後的討論話題，也反映出現代棒球在財務與競技之間的微妙平衡。

In the 2025 Major League Baseball (MLB) season, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ high payroll became a major topic of discussion among fans and the media. Reports indicate that the Dodgers’ total team payroll reached $394 million (approximately NT$12.1 billion), surpassing the second-highest payroll, the New York Mets at $340 million, and exceeding the third-ranked New York Yankees by around $100 million. As a result, some fans have dubbed the Dodgers the “new evil empire”, while others criticized the team for “buying championships with money”, arguing that such an approach undermines the spirit of fair competition in baseball.

However, spending big does not guarantee success. Teams like the Mets and the Braves, which also invested heavily this season, failed to make the playoffs, highlighting that a high payroll does not automatically translate into on-field victories. In contrast, the Milwaukee Brewers, who faced the Dodgers in the National League Division Series, operate on only about one-third of the Dodgers’ payroll yet performed impressively in the postseason. This scenario recalls the story portrayed in the classic baseball narrative “Moneyball,” in which the Oakland Athletics won 20 consecutive regular-season games but still could not capture the championship.

The situation has sparked debates among fans about payroll strategies and competitive fairness in baseball. On one hand, high payrolls allow teams to attract star players and build deeper rosters, increasing the likelihood of competing for a championship. On the other hand, overreliance on financial power can diminish a team’s strategic cohesion and risk turning the sport into a “money game,” potentially eroding its competitive charm.

Overall, the Dodgers’ 2025 payroll strategy and on-field performance illustrate the paradox that spending a lot of money does not guarantee a championship, but not spending enough makes winning nearly impossible. This has become a widely discussed topic among fans and reflects the delicate balance between finance and competition in modern baseball.