"Big Spender" is the theme music for baseball's final four.
The New York Mets, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers are in the League Championship Series with the sport's top three payrolls, joined by Cleveland at No. 23.
"You have to scratch and claw and match up and make moves, take shots and hope that it works," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. "Whereas for the other three teams, for the majorities, they set their lineup and go play."
The Mets-Dodgers National League Championship Series starting Sunday and the Yankees-Guardians American League matchup beginning Monday feature some of baseball's biggest stars in Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso. Cleveland has the best closer in Emmanuel Clase and a top hitter in Jose Ramirez.
Playoff pairings bring to the forefront the question of whether spending equates to success.
