It’s no secret the Dodgers don’t want to operate with a payroll in the $250 to $300 million range. No team does. Part of the front office’s plan — as mandated by ownership — has been to reduce payroll while remaining competitive. It hasn’t been publicly stated (nor will it be), but the moves and lack of moves the last two seasons are a strong indicator that it is indeed the case.
There’s nothing wrong with a business (and make no mistake, this is a business first) wanting to run more efficiently and reduce costs while having similar or better production.