MORE THAN MONEY: Dodgers Exec Stan Kasten Fires Back at Jason Kelce’s “Buy Championships” Claim.vc
LOS ANGELES, CA — The debate over the legitimacy of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ dominance boiled over when Dodgers President and part-owner Stan Kasten delivered a sharp, detailed rebuttal to former NFL star Jason Kelce’s claim that the Dodgers “just buy World Series championships.”
After the Dodgers secured their back-to-back World Series titles in 2025, Kelce took to his podcast to declare that the result was expected because the Dodgers “spend more money than everybody else,” calling baseball “the dumbest thing in the world.”
Kasten, speaking on the Starkville podcast, dismantled the criticism by defending the team’s comprehensive strategy, affirming that sustained success in MLB requires more than money—it requires balancing smart leadership, shrewd trades, and a productive farm system.
Kasten’s Three-Point Defense
Kasten based his rebuttal on three core pillars, proving that their high payroll is a necessary component, not the sole determinant, of their championship reign:
1. The Flawed Premise: History Dispels the Myth
Kasten immediately attacked the notion that the highest payroll guarantees a title, citing rivals who spend heavily and fail:
“First of all, history demonstrates that’s not true. Usually the team with the highest payroll doesn’t win the World Series… And just buying a world championship, if it were true, more teams would certainly be trying that approach. It’s not true.”
Kasten pointed out that in 2025, the New York Yankees and New York Mets also carried payrolls near or above the Dodgers’, yet the Mets missed the playoffs entirely, and the Yankees were eliminated early. This fact cemented his argument that spending power alone does not guarantee a title.
2. The Bryce Harper Quote: Calling Out the Critics
To deliver a powerful, personal blow, Kasten quoted Philadelphia Phillies star and Kelce’s citymate, Bryce Harper, who had previously commented on the same criticism:
“I hate to throw facts at him, but I will throw one quote from someone in his city, and that’s Bryce Harper, who said the only people complaining are losers. I think he’s exactly right.”
This strategic use of a rival superstar’s quote positioned the Dodgers as a franchise focused on winning, dismissing the criticism as the natural complaint of those who fall short.
3. The Foundation: Player Development and Farm System Depth
Kasten stressed that the payroll is only effective because it is supported by elite organizational depth and player development—areas where the Dodgers consistently outperform other high-payroll teams.
“What got us to the position we’re in… was because, yes, we had a high payroll. But those people need to be led and developed, and we need to be backed up by a farm system that is productive year in and year out. Without that, we couldn’t compete.”
He referenced his time with the Atlanta Braves, noting how their 1990s dynasty pitchers (Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz) were acquired through a mix of development (Smoltz), trades (Maddux), and free agency (Glavine). This is the exact balanced approach the Dodgers use today to sustain their dominance.
The message is clear: the Dodgers’ back-to-back titles are the result of shrewd trades, elite drafting (the farm system is frequently ranked in the top five in MLB), and savvy development, with the high payroll serving only to supplement a fundamentally strong organization.
