What the LA Dodgers’ second straight World Series means for baseball

The GIST: It’s been two days since the LA Dodgers topped the Toronto Blue Jays 5–4 in a thrilling 11-inning Game 7, securing their second straight World Series pennant. And that means two things: Your blood pressure might finally be returning to normal, and it’s time to dissect what the Dodgers winning back-to-back titles means for baseball.

🔥 A World Series for the ages: From stunning mid-collision catches and clutch at-bats to World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitching on zero days’ rest, Game 7 had it all — as did the entire series. Not only did it go the distance, but it also captivated a record-breaking global audience from start to finish.

• The Dodgers are the first repeat champs since the NY Yankees won three straight from 1998 to 2000. But this pennant didn’t come easy: The hard-hitting Jays pushed LA to the brink, with both clubs emptying the tank over seven games, two of which needed extra innings.

🧠 The broader impact on MLB: Many say LA’s title run all but guarantees a 2027 lockout, with the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire in December 2026. Why? With the highest payroll in baseball (even with two-way star Shohei Ohtani’s contract mostly deferred), the Dodgers just reminded everyone there’s still no salary cap in MLB, the only major sports league without one.

• For context, after the aforementioned well-resourced Yanks won three straight, the league implemented the all-important luxury tax the following offseason. Coincidence? We think not.

• All to say, expect owners to push for both a salary cap and a salary floor this offseason in an effort to close MLB’s massive spending gap, which accounts for hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Stay tuned.