When the Dodgers brought Andrew Friedman to Los Angeles their goal was to build an annual contender that stayed right around or under the luxury tax. In recent seasons, the Dodgers’ have slashed as much as 38% off their payroll number from 2015. Up until 2019 it had been tough to argue with their plan as the Dodgers made their first two World Series appearances since 1988.
This year however, the Dodgers were taken out in the first round of the playoffs by the Washington Nationals. A blown lead in game five of the NLDS with six outs to go was a harsh reminder that the postseason can be very cruel.