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The Los Angeles Dodgers became MLB’s first back-to-back champions in a quarter-century, but many around the baseball world see this as a negative. Since the Dodgers led the league with a $350 million payroll in 2025, a narrative that started to swirl was that the Dodgers were ‘buying championships.’ LA was one of three teams to exceed $300 million in payroll, and one of five that eclipsed $250 million (including the Toronto Blue Jays’ $255 million). Despite a World Series that dominated television ratings and a Game 7 that was the most-watched MLB game since 1991, the narrative soldiers on. Dodgers part-owner and Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson, however, isn’t buying into that reality. More news: Blue Jays’ Shane Bieber Makes Surprise Contract Decision Before Free Agency LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 29: Magic Johnson walks out to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before game five of the 2025 World Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on October 29, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) “They said we ruined baseball,” Johnson said. “Well, I guess we didn’t.” Johnson has the unique experience of being a Hall of Fame basketball player and a five-time NBA champion. He noted the similarities between what the Dodgers are bringing to the table to what he helped orchestrate back in his playing days. “What the Celtics and Lakers were able to do, and Michael Jordan’s Bulls, was to bring in new fans — fans that were, ‘Oh, I don’t know about the NBA,’” Johnson said, “but the play was so good, and the Celtics and Lakers and Bulls were so dominant, people said, ‘Oh man, I want to watch them.’ “It’s the same thing happening here.” More news: Blue Jays’ Max Scherzer Receives Major Contract Prediction After World Series Loss Johnson emphasized that the same was happening with him personally after the thrilling Game 7, as people who didn’t tune in to an MLB game recently were brought back in by the Dodgers’ run. “My phone was blowing up with people who hadn’t watched baseball for a long time,” Johnson said. “They were watching this series. “This was good for baseball around the world.” The Blue Jays also played their part in the global ratings, given that they are the sole MLB representative of Canada, but the Dodgers have also drawn a significant portion of viewers in Japan since acquiring Shohei Ohtani. Regardless of where the viewers are coming from, eyeballs are returning to the baseball diamond, and the Dodgers have demonstrated just how significant their role in the shift has been. More news: Shohei Ohtani Sends Clear Message to Dodgers Fans After World Series Win For all the latest MLB news and rumors, head over to Newsweek Sports
