Dodgers co-Owner Todd Boehly said that payroll "will drop substantially" in '16, adding that it will be "much closer" to $200M than $300M, according to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. TIMES. Boehly said the Dodgers are "looking toward building something long-term, and sustainable." He added that leading MLB in payroll every year "is not sustainable." Boehly: "Sustainable is more like the league average, plus some, or plus a lot." Shaikin: "Let those jarring words hang in the air. League average." Preliminary end-of-season payroll information showed the "league average" was $140M this year. The Dodgers "will not get anywhere close to the league average next season, maybe not for a few seasons." After P Brett Anderson "accepted their qualifying offer Friday, they're close" to $189M for next season. That number is "important, because teams pay a tax on every dollar above that number." The end-of-season payrolls "include salaries and benefits for every player on the 40-man roster;" the Dodgers came in at $298M. Add the tax, and the Dodgers' player spending "comes to" about $342M. This is "not about cost-cutting for the sake of saving a few million bucks." This is about "making way for the consistent infusions of youth intended to prevent too many players from getting too old at the same time." Boehly: "The farm system is looking great, compared to what it was three years ago. I feel really good about that. I know that has been [Dodgers President & CEO Stan Kasten's] mantra since he showed up" (L.A. TIMES, 11/15).
