Manny Machado has been one of the most criticized players at Dodger Stadium. Every time he steps into the batter’s box, he hears boos, a reminder of the rivalry between San Diego and Los Angeles. But when the talk turned to the Dodgers’ huge $390 million spending, Machado’s response shocked everyone.

When Machado talked about how the Dodgers spend money, he didn’t hold back.

“I [expletive] love it. I love it. I mean, honestly, I think every team should be doing it,” Machado said, via reporter Marty Caswell.

“They’ve figured out a way to do it, and [expletive] is [expletive] great for the game, honestly. So I think every team, every team has the ability to do it. So you know, I hope you know all 30 teams could learn from that you.”

This praise comes from someone who knows a lot about the Dodgers’ rivalry. Machado has a stronger connection to Los Angeles than most people do. He has a history with the team, including that famous moment in the 2024 NLDS when he threw a ball at their dugout with a lot of force, almost hitting manager Dave Roberts. Roberts said it was “unsettling” and “disrespectful,” but Machado said he was uninvolved. Then, in June 2025, there was an explosion when both Shohei Ohtani and Fernando Tatis Jr. got hit in the same series. This led to several fights and the ejection of both managers.

But Machado is defending the system that keeps his rivals on top. “I think our game is very good at what we’re doing,” Machado said. “There’s a lot of money being made. Look at what’s going on with the game. The last five years, it’s been great.” The numbers support his excitement. The Dodgers’ 2026 luxury tax payroll is about $390.5 million, which is $146.5 million more than the league’s $244 million limit. They’ve promised more than $2.14 billion in guaranteed salary, which is more than the bottom 13 MLB teams put together.

After winning two World Series in a row, this spending spree shows that money can buy championships if you spend it wisely. The Dodgers aren’t just spending more than their rivals; they’re also changing the way baseball teams think about how to build their rosters.

Padres ownership transition forces team budget cuts

But if you change the story to San Diego, it changes a lot. Machado talks about how great it is to spend as much as you want, but his own team is in a lot of financial trouble, which is very different from the Dodgers’ unlimited resources. After the World Series, the Seidler family said that the franchise would be for sale. That decision has stopped the Padres from spending money faster than a curveball in October.

A.J. Preller, the president of baseball operations, says he can’t do anything even though he promised to keep the team competitive. The Padres had to pay just under $7 million in luxury tax last season, even though their payroll was more than $270 million. Their 2026 luxury tax payroll is currently just under $260 million, and nine players make more than $11 million. Machado is in first place with $31 million, followed by Xander Bogaerts with $25.4 million and Michael King with $25 million.

The ownership situation makes things very hard for Preller. There is a commitment of more than $182 million to just nine players, four of whom are locked in until 2032. The family said they are all in for 2026, but any moves must make sense financially to keep the value of the sale. What does that mean? There aren’t any big-name free agents or high-salary trades. The team is just carefully managing its roster until new owners come in.

There is a little bit of hope for the future. The projected payroll will drop to $221.1 million in 2027 and then to $197.5 million in 2028. This could give the new owners more options. For now, though, Machado watches the Dodgers spend freely while his own team counts every dollar. This is the most ironic thing about his public praise of unrestricted spending.