As the World Series approaches, Major League Baseball and its broadcasting affiliates find themselves in the ideal situation they envisioned: a face-off between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
This matchup brings together the largest television markets from the East Coast and the most notable from the West Coast.
It’s a confrontation between Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, the two exceptional players anticipated to be awarded league MVP honors, both making their inaugural appearance in the Fall Classic.
Reflecting on his journey, Ohtani stated, “I sense that we have finally reached this moment; I have finally reached this stage,” during an event at Dodger Stadium on Sunday night.
According to the most recent valuations from Sportico, these franchises represent the highest valuation in Major League Baseball, ranking among the top revenue earners and major spenders in the league.
To secure a position in the best-of-seven World Series set to commence at Dodger Stadium on Friday night, the Dodgers eliminated the New York Mets with a 10-5 victory in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday, employing an opener and deploying six relievers. Meanwhile, the Yankees had previously overcome Cleveland in Game 5 on Saturday to capture the American League championship.
The Yankees are making their 41st World Series appearance, having claimed victory 27 times, while the Dodgers have earned the title six times. This will be the 12th matchup between the Yankees and the Dodgers in World Series history, and their first since 1981. In their previous 11 encounters, New York emerged victorious in eight.
In 2012, Mark Walter and Guggenheim Baseball acquired the Dodgers from Frank McCourt for $2.15 billion. Today, the franchise is valued at $6.3 billion, ranking second in Major League Baseball behind the Yankees, whose valuation stands at $7.93 billion. The Mets, who fell to the Dodgers, are valued at approximately $2.91 billion.
Walter expressed his excitement, remarking, “This is a phenomenal feeling, yet we must secure four more victories,” while accepting the Warren Giles Trophy for winning the NL pennant on the field at Dodger Stadium.
The value of the franchise has risen by 20% since 2023, a year in which they generated $637 million in revenue, making them the second-highest revenue-generating team in MLB, just behind the Yankees, who brought in $720 million.
Both teams have invested heavily to reach this pivotal moment. The Dodgers allocated $339.8 million in player payroll this season, ranking second in MLB, with the Mets narrowly leading at approximately $11 million more. The Yankees closely follow in third place with a payroll of $314.7 million.
During the offseason, the Dodgers splurged an astonishing $1.025 billion to land notable free agents Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Ohtani committed to a 10-year agreement worth $700 million, with $680 million deferred, while Yamamoto signed a 12-year contract valued at $325 million.
When discussing their achievements, Ohtani commented, “Our aim was to reach this point, and my vision of achieving it aligned with the contract.”“I signed. All the matches were incredibly demanding. Yet, I am thrilled that we have reached this point,” he said.
Walter shared his satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “As a team, we have performed excellently. We have claimed four pennants in the last eight years, which really reflects our hard work.”
Winning the World Series is a lofty aspiration. In 2017, the Dodgers faced defeat against the Houston Astros in a seven-game World Series, a contest overshadowed by the Astros’ sign-stealing controversy. The Dodgers encountered another hurdle in 2018, where they fell to the Boston Red Sox in a five-game series. Redemption arrived in 2020 when they triumphed over the Tampa Bay Rays in six games at the Globe Life Field bubble, an ending to the COVID-shortened 60-game regular season.
The celebration for their victory occurred in a neutral location, as health and safety regulations hindered the Dodgers from hosting a parade in downtown Los Angeles.
Should they secure a win against the Yankees, who last celebrated a World Series victory in 2009, it would change the competitive landscape.
Aligning with fans’ hopes, Walter expressed, “We strive to do so. The fans undoubtedly deserve it. Over the years, we have been steady challengers, and now is our moment to capitalize.”
Sunday night marked the first occasion since 1988 when the Dodgers celebrated a playoff series win at Dodger Stadium, defeating the Mets in a seven-game NLCS.
In Game 7, Orel Hershiser outperformed Ron Darling, leading to a decisive 6-0 win. Unlike the bullpen-heavy strategy utilized on Sunday night, Hershiser completed all nine innings.
Throughout this postseason, Dodger starters have averaged just 3.4 innings over the first 12 games, and there is little expectation for improvement against the Yankees.
The fact that the Dodgers topped the San Diego Padres and the Mets in the opening two playoff rounds with only three dependable starters—Yamamoto, Jack Flaherty, and Walker Buehler—highlights the bullpen’s remarkable performance.
Walter praised manager Dave Roberts for skillfully navigating the pitching staff and injury issues. Star first baseman Freddie Freeman was notably absent from Sunday’s game due to a significant right ankle sprain, missing two of the last three games.
During Walter’s leadership, Roberts has guided the team through all four World Series appearances. Commending Roberts’ bullpen management, Walter remarked, “Roberts’ handling of the bullpen has been outstanding. He and the entire team along with the staff have done exceptionally well. We are incredibly proud of their efforts, yet there is more to be accomplished. Our aim was not just to win the pennant; we set our sights on securing the World Series title.”
Image Source: Los Angeles Dodgers @ Instagram
