It’s a tale of two Top 5 payrolls for this year’s World Series, though it seems unfair to place any team in the same financial tier as the Los Angeles Dodgers. As the series kicks off, we’ll break down a few financial comparisons surrounding the Dodgers & Blue Jays.
Full Roster 2025 CBT Payrolls
For the second straight season, the Dodgers bring the league’s highest CBT payroll all the way to the finish line, though this time around they hold a $75M gap over the next highest payroll. Toronto rounds out the Top 5 based on our data. LAD is in line to pay a $169M bill for their $417M payroll, making this a $585M roster when it’s all said and done. Their revenue stream says it’s worth it.
RELATED: Spotrac’s 2025 MLB Tax Payrolls
26-Man World Series Roster Payrolls
The Dodgers will bring out a 26-man roster that accounts for $125M more tax payroll than the Blue Jays. For clarity, Shohei Ohtani’s $46M tax hit has been factored into the Batters Payroll.
And a look at the financials by player…
How the 26-Man Rosters Were Built
This is a pretty even comparison for the most part, as both teams have utilized both the trade and free agency heavily in recent years, with a healthy dose of homegrown drafted talent, and players signed from the international pool. Dodgers RP Jack Dreyer is the only undrafted player to make the World Series roster this fall.
Largest Contracts Among World Series Players
Shohei Ohtani (TWP, Dodgers)
Just finished Year 2 of a 10 year, $700M free agent contract that famously includes $680M deferred. The accounting move saves LAD $24M of annual tax space, dropping Ohtani’s CBT hit from $70M, down to $46M. The 31-year-old is taking in $2M cash per year through 2033, then $68M each July 1st from 2034-2043.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B, Blue Jays)
Will begin a 14 year, $500M extension next season that includes a whopping $325M of signing bonus, paid out over the course of the contract. Vlad scores an extra $20M this season per the signing, bringing his 2025 compensation up to $48.5M, 3rd most in MLB. The 26-year-old is now on the books through 2039.
Mookie Betts (SS, Dodgers)
Just finished Year 5 of a 12 year, $365M for the Dodgers, having played three different positions (RF, 2B, SS). $65M of this contract is paid out as signing bonus, while another $115M is deferred until the 2033 season. An interesting note: If Betts is traded during the lifespan of this contract, the deferrals are cancelled, and payments revert to full, in-season salaries.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (SP, Dodgers)
Just finished Year 2 of a 12 year, $325M foreign professional contract out of Japan. $50M of this contract is paid out as signing bonus, however none of the salary is deferred. Yamamoto has the ability to opt-out of this contract after the 2029 or 2031 seasons. The Dodgers paid a $50.625M posting fee to the Orix Buffaloes of the Nippon Professional Baseball league to acquire Yamamoto’s rights.
Blake Snell (SP, Dodgers)
Just finished Year 1 of a 5 year, $182M free agent contract that included a $52M signing (all paid in 2025). His $64.8M earned in 2025 is 2nd only to Juan Soto’s ridiculous new deal in NY. $66M of Snell’s deal is deferred until 2035, dropping his tax hit from $36.4M down to $31.3M.
RELATED
Active Toronto Blue Jays Contracts
Active Los Angeles Dodgers Contracts
Upcoming Offseason Decisions
Blue Jays
SS Bo Bichette is one of the biggest names currently set to hit the open market this winter, projecting toward an 8 year, $186M contract in our system. Shane Bieber (SP) holds a $16M player option for 2026, but is largely expected to decline that in favor of free agency. Fellow starters Chris Bassitt, & Max Scherzer are also slated for the open market this winter. Retaining Bieber’s services should be one of Toronto’s top priorities in the coming weeks. Other pending free agents include RP Seranthony Dominguez, INF Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and 1B Ty France.
Dodgers
3B Max Muncy holds a $10M club option for 2026, and it’s not a slam dunk that the Dodgers bring him back for the upcoming season. The 35-year-old battled multiple injuries in 2025, but is still likely to garner a multi-year guarantee should he hit free agency. RP Alex Vesia holds a $3.5M club option that is likely to be exercised.
Notable pending free agents include OF Michael Conforto, INF Miguel Rojas, and pitchers Kirby Yates & Michael Kopech.
Related
2026 MLB Free Agents
2026 MLB Contract Options
