Money helped Dodgers win the World Series. But they say culture got them through Game 7

"With confetti at his feet, a drink in his hand and a smile of equal parts relief and elation planted on his face, Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy gave the question of the night only a cursory thought. Had the Dodgers cemented a dynasty? "I guess so," he said. Over the last six seasons, Muncy had been one of six Dodgers players to have a hand in all three of their recent World Series championships."

"In the public discourse, of course, it won't be. These Dodgers, with their star-studded roster and record-setting $415 million payroll and long-established reputation as big-spending villains who might be ruining baseball, have only further fueled debates about the financial inequities of the sport. With a labor battle looming next year, they will be turned into a proxy - the prime example, critics will argue, of what's wrong with the only major professional sports league in North America without a hard salary cap."

Max Muncy celebrated a Game 7 win while emphasizing pride in the culture the Dodgers created. Over six seasons, six Dodgers players, including Muncy, contributed to three World Series championships and helped define the team as a modern powerhouse. The franchise operates with a record-setting $415 million payroll, prompting criticism and debates about financial inequities in baseball. With a looming labor battle, critics will use the Dodgers as an example of the need for a hard salary cap. The team spends within MLB rules and reinvests revenue heavily into its roster. Players prioritize culture and mental resilience over external money narratives.

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