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The Dodgers just made one of the biggest splashes of MLB free agency — and are now undeniably the team to beat this season.
On Wednesday, Los Angeles signed 2020 National League MVP and 2021 World Series Champion 1B Freddie Freeman to a six-year, $162 million deal.
At $27 million per season, it’s the second-highest average salary on the team behind SP Trevor Bauer ($35.3M). It’s also the second-highest AAV ever for a first baseman (Miguel Cabrera, $31M).
The Dodgers have the highest 2022 payroll in MLB — and are thus very likely to dominate on the field, as well.
- With Freeman’s contract, L.A. will pay its players $258.5 million this season.
- At +500*, the Dodgers are the clear World Series favorites; the Yankees (+900*) are the next-closest.
- The prospective top of the lineup — Mookie Betts (+900*), Freeman (+1200*), and Trea Turner (1300*) — account for three of the top six NL MVP favorites.
And it’s not just the supersized contracts that make the Dodgers big favorites: They’re getting value up and down the roster.
Ace SP Walker Buehler will make $7.3 million in his second season of arbitration, while rising star 2B Gavin Lux is pre-arbitration and will play on a $700,000 estimated salary.
