How Dodgers' $2.1B Payroll Compares to Every MLB Team After Kyle Tucker's Rumored $240M Contract

It had been a few weeks since the Los Angeles Dodgers splurged on a star player, so they scratched that itch on Thursday by agreeing to a deal with Kyle Tucker that once again solidified their status as the biggest financial juggernaut in all of North American pro sports.

Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, Tucker will sign a four-year, $240 million deal with the two-time defending World Series champs that includes $30 million in deferred money and an opt-out after the second year.

When Tucker's deal becomes official, Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac noted the Dodgers' $2.1 billion in guaranteed salaries owed will be nearly $800 million more than the No. 2 team in MLB (San Diego Padres: $1.3 billion).

Ginnitti also pointed out that the present-day value of Tucker's contract will come to around $57 million annually when factoring in the deferred money, and the Dodgers will have two of the three largest individual tax salaries on their books in 2026.

It's telling how active the Dodgers are at all times that this was considered a quiet offseason for them, even though they previously signed Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69 million contract that made him the highest-paid closer in MLB history.

Between their $413 million payroll and estimated tax bill, the Dodgers are projected to spend $575.6 million in 2026 if they don't make any other moves. For comparison, the most expensive NBA team for the 2025-26 season is the Cleveland Cavaliers with a combined payroll and tax bill of $392.4 million.

Before the Boston Celtics broke up a lot of their core last summer by trading Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday, they were on track to spend roughly $494 million between payroll and tax payments during the 2025-26 season.

The biggest reason for the Dodgers' financial windfall is, unsurprisingly, Ohtani. MLB insider Joon Lee noted in October that the club had already made back the entire value of his 10-year, $700 million contract in his first season with the Dodgers through ticket and merchandise sales, as well as marketing deals around the world.

It would seem likely the Dodgers will be done spending, at least on star players, before reporting to spring training next month. But recent history also says that you can never rule this team out on anything.