The 2026 MLB playoffs are shaping up to be a cautionary tale for big spenders not named the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The star-studded Dodgers, armed with the major's highest payroll, are chasing a historic three-peat after punching their ticket to a third straight NLCS. They'll face the Milwaukee Brewers. Meanwhile, either the Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago White Sox, or Cleveland Guardians will capture the American League pennant despite limited financial resources.
Los Angeles has 10 players on contracts with a $20-million average annual value before deferrals, including Shohei Ohtani ($70 million), Kyle Tucker ($55 million), Blake Snell ($36.4 million), Tyler Glasnow ($32.5 million), Yoshinobu Yamamoto ($34.3 million), Mookie Betts ($30 million), Freddie Freeman ($27 million), and Edwin Díaz ($26 million).
In comparison, the small-market Brewers have only one in Christian Yelich ($23.3 million).
Seven teams with top-10 payrolls made the playoffs, including the Dodgers. The New York Yankees ($336 million), Philadelphia Phillies ($324 million), Chicago Cubs ($262 million), San Diego Padres ($262 million), Atlanta Braves ($255 million), and Houston Astros ($236 million) have already been eliminated. Meanwhile, the New York Mets ($358 million), Toronto Blue Jays ($315 million), and Detroit Tigers ($230 million) didn't even qualify for the postseason.
One of the Rays, White Sox, or Guardians will represent the AL in the World Series. Tampa Bay's highest-paid player this season is Nick Martinez ($13 million). Junior Caminero, the team's biggest star and AL MVP contender, is making just under $795,000 because he's still in his pre-arbitration years.
Chicago is one win away from reaching the ALCS for the first time since 2005 after posting three straight 100-plus-loss seasons between 2023-25. Rookie Munetaka Murakami ($17 million) was the team's highest-paid player before the White Sox acquired Luis Castillo ($23.5 million) at the trade deadline.
Lastly, the Guardians also only have one major leaguer making $20 million or more. That honor belongs to José Ramírez ($20.8 million).
