Jason Kelce TORCHES Major League Baseball: ‘Baseball SUCKS — You Just BUY a World Series
Jason Kelce didn’t tiptoe around it. On the latest New Heights podcast episode, the retired Eagles legend and lifelong Phillies fan torched Major League Baseball’s competitive balance in the wake of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ second straight World Series title. His line—“Baseball sucks. You just buy World Series championships. It’s the dumbest thing in the world.”—lit up social media and reignited the sport’s evergreen debate: does money buy greatness in baseball?
The timing was combustible. The Dodgers had just outlasted the Blue Jays in a seven-game classic to become MLB’s first back-to-back champion in 25 years. The New Heights account amplified the brothers’ split opinion—Travis praised it as “awesome baseball,” while Jason blasted the outcome as predictable—and the clip spread across fan bases like wildfire.
Why Kelce’s Critique Hit a Nerve
– Big market, big payroll: Los Angeles rolled into October with MLB’s highest payroll—north of $310 million—and a galaxy of stars: Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and more.
– Fresh wounds for Philly: The Phillies were bounced by the Dodgers in the NLDS, giving Kelce’s frustration a personal edge.
– Two titles, one narrative: Back-to-back championships in a league without a hard salary cap strengthen the “money wins” argument—at least on the surface.
The Case for “You Can Buy It”
– Star power stacks the deck: In baseball’s long postseason, elite depth matters. The Dodgers’ ability to pay for a top-heavy roster and still absorb injuries creates a margin few can match.
– No hard cap: Without an NFL-style hard salary cap, wealthier clubs can outspend mid- and small-market rivals, tilting access to premium free agents and top-end pitching.
– Sustained contention: The Dodgers’ decade-plus run of division titles and playoff appearances is inseparable from their financial muscle.
The Counterpoint: Spending Isn’t Everything
– Big spenders fail, too: The Mets have missed the playoffs despite massive payrolls; the Yankees have repeatedly fallen short of expectations. Money raises the floor—not a banner.
– Development machine: Los Angeles pairs spending with elite scouting, player development, and roster optimization. They find and fix arms, build versatile lineups, and churn depth from within.
– October randomness: Baseball’s postseason remains a high-variance gauntlet. Hot bullpens, matchups, and timely hitting can topple giants—hence the rarity of repeat champs before the Dodgers broke through.
What Makes MLB Different from the NFL
– Structural gap: The NFL’s hard cap enforces parity; MLB operates with a luxury tax that acts more like a speed bump than a wall. That’s the heart of Kelce’s gripe.
– Market leverage: Large media footprints and revenue streams give clubs like the Dodgers a sustained edge in bidding and retention.
– Incentive dynamics: Without a cap, front offices decide whether to pay tax penalties. Ambitious, well-resourced teams can treat it as a cost of winning.
Why Jason’s Rant Resonates Beyond Philly
– It’s honest fan logic: Fans want possibility, not predestination. When the same heavyweights hover near the trophy every year, the sport can feel stratified.
– It spotlights MLB’s identity crisis: Baseball markets itself on tradition and localism, yet increasingly showcases superteams assembled through mega-deals—an uneasy balance.
– It fuels a real policy question: Would a hard cap (and a higher floor) improve competitive balance—or dilute the incentive to invest and innovate?
The Dodgers, Fairly Framed
– Credit where it’s due: Los Angeles built a roster that blends megastars with developed talent and adaptable depth. They’ve won with process, not just payroll.
– Proof of concept: Their 2025 crown validates both philosophies—money helps you stay in the fight; infrastructure helps you win it.
– The standard to chase: For rivals, the blueprint isn’t simply “spend more.” It’s “spend smart, develop better, and maximize edges.”
Can You Really Buy Greatness in Baseball?
– Short answer: You can buy access—to stars, depth, and margins for error. You can’t buy October certainty.
– Long answer: The Dodgers’ repeat is a triumph of resources plus relentless competence. For fans who crave parity, that still leaves a bitter aftertaste, because the starting line isn’t even.
The Bottom Line
Jason Kelce gave voice to a frustration many fans feel: MLB’s richest clubs can stack the deck. He’s also poking at a truth the Dodgers embody: championships are purchased only in part. The rest is drafted, developed, optimized, and earned pitch by pitch. If baseball wants to quiet the “you can buy it” chorus, it won’t be with clapbacks on a podcast—it’ll be with systemic changes that bring more teams meaningfully into the title fight.
