GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — An ownership spending spree has heaped the expectations on the Los Angeles Dodgers as they enter the 2013 season.
The new ownership group that includes Mark Walter, Magic Johnson and Stan Kasten whipped out the wallets last season, working out deals to acquire Hanley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford and Brandon League.
The Dodgers kept handing out stacks of cash during the offseason, shelling out a combined $183 million to right-hander Zack Greinke and South Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin.
The wheeling and dealing sent the Dodgers’ payroll over $200 million and likely ahead of the New York Yankees, baseball’s biggest spender the previous 14 years.
A price tag like that brings expectations, particularly for a franchise that hasn’t been to the World Series since winning it in 1988.
