9 Bold Predictions for the 2024 MLB Playoffs | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

While last year was an absolute nightmare for teams trying to buy a ring – the Mets, Yankees and Padres all missed the postseason despite having the three highest payrolls – the big spenders had much better luck this time around.

Atlanta (fourth-highest payroll) may be a bit behind, due in large part to the number of serious injuries. However, the remaining six top-spending players in 2024 – Mets, Dodgers, Yankees, Phillies and Astros – will/should be in the playoffs and may be the five biggest favorites to win the overall title. (The Mets’ betting odds may not crack the top five since they’ll be a wild-card team, but they’ve been hot for months and certainly feel like one of the top contenders.)

If this luck holds, congratulations to MLB on all of its upcoming ad revenue. Even though Houston isn’t a big market, it would be a ratings dream to have the Yankees-Astros on one side and perhaps the Dodgers-Mets on the other.

But could we end up with a champion who spends less money for a change?

According to Cot’s Contracts, the 2015 Kansas City Royals and 2017 Houston Astros were the only World Series winners with a payroll that ranked in the bottom half of the league, as the 2003 Marlins finished 25th with an Opening Day payroll. both were 17 this year.

Aside from the aforementioned big earners who will make a luxury tax payment at some point this offseason, the other contenders, in descending order of Opening Day payroll, are San Diego (14th), Arizona (15th), Seattle (17th) and Minnesota (18th). .). ), Kansas City (21st), Milwaukee (22nd), Cleveland (23rd), Detroit (25th) and Baltimore (26th).

Of all of them, Cleveland, Baltimore and San Diego have the best chances, and it would certainly be something if the Padres won all year after trading away Juan Soto and cutting nearly $100 million from the payroll.

But this October anything is possible.