Kasten has been the focus of fan ire, with the Dodgers not making any splashes so far this offseasongetty images
Dodgers fans' "annual offseason frustration ... has soared" this winter, and this time, the "blame has reached ownership," according to Bill Plaschke of the L.A. TIMES. Fans "want to know why the team is not spending more" of the $8.35B that it is "getting in that botched TV contract that has resulted in the Dodgers going unseen in more than half" of L.A. households. Dodgers President & CEO Stan Kasten addressed Dodgers fans' concerns about ownership, saying, "The L.A. Times' characterization that everyone hates us has always been childish, superficial and wrong." Kasten: "There are metrics in business that are mostly private that we look at, and I'd say we feel successful there. But there's no question that ... we're laser-focused on winning the World Series. ... We really need that." In regard to the perception that the Dodgers are not willing to spend on the roster, Kasten said, "There were three teams in all of baseball that spent more than us last year ... two of them didn't make the postseason. So, to say we don't spend enough, it is ludicrous." Asked if the Dodgers still intend to keep player payroll under the competitive balance tax, Kasten said, "Two years ago, it was important, even though it was never a mandate. Last year was less important. This year, there's no real need for that." He added, "I expect [the] team, this year, it looks like it's going to be well over the CBT, or somewhat over" (L.A. TIMES, 1/5).
