Two World Series contenders, two very different pa...
Key takeaways
- That was the oft-used description of Andrew Friedman's circumstances a dozen years ago, when he left the cash-strapped Tampa Bay Rays to join the affluent Los Angeles Dodgers.
- The prospect of replicating that model 2,500 miles west, with a historic franchise bolstered by the deep pockets of a new ownership group, was too alluring for Friedman to turn down.
- The Dodgers dominate the sport, winning the last two World Series and claiming 12 of the last 13 National League West titles, dating back two years before the start of Friedman's tenure.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Alden Gonzalez Close Alden Gonzalez ESPN Staff Writer ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016.Follow on X and David Schoenfield Close David Schoenfield Sweet Spot blogger Senior writer of Sweet Spot baseball blog Former deputy editor of Page 2 Been with ESPN.com since 1995Multiple Authors Jun 15, 2026, 07:00 AM ETEmail Print Open Extended Reactions The Rays with money.
That was the oft-used description of Andrew Friedman's circumstances a dozen years ago, when he left the cash-strapped Tampa Bay Rays to join the affluent Los Angeles Dodgers. In nine years leading their front office, Friedman had built the Rays into an organization that pushed the boundaries on analytics, thrived at player development, engineered shrewd trades and routinely outplayed financial juggernauts like the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.
The prospect of replicating that model 2,500 miles west, with a historic franchise bolstered by the deep pockets of a new ownership group, was too alluring for Friedman to turn down.