Many baseball fans have watched the Los Angeles Dodgers’ player acquisitions the past couple of years with a mixture of disgust and envy.
How could the Dodgers add Shohei Ohtani’s monster contract last year to an already loaded lineup (Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, etc.), and then this offseason, sign relief ace Tanner Scott and Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki?
So when news surfaced Tuesday that the Dodgers had reached a tentative agreement with All-Star reliever Kirby Yates, many fans were upset. One of them, WFAN host Sal Licata, happened to be sitting in front of his microphone when he heard the Yates news.
Licata blew up on the air.
“How many roster spots do they have?” Licata yelled (via Mediaite.com). “Enough! My god, what is going on here? How many guys did the Dodgers get? They get Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates? Who else? Sasaki, Tanner Scott weren’t enough. Now, even Kirby Yates. Like, what are we doing? I don’t understand how they’re doing it. Just every player that’s available, that’s decent, is going to the Dodgers?”
Co-host Brandon Tierney interrupted Licata’s rant to say “115 wins,” which Licata interpreted as the Dodgers’ projected win total. Many sports books have them in the neighborhood of 104 wins. A projected 115 wins would be a bit steep, even if the Dodgers will bring one of the greatest teams ever assembled on paper into the season.
“I’m betting the under,” Licata said. “On principle, I’m betting the under! I’m betting the pants on the under. Hundred-fifteen wins. No. Something will go wrong! I just don’t believe that you could build a team like that and have success!”
The Dodgers have signed another free agent, and @sal_licata can’t believe it 😂 pic.twitter.com/9uOkcJTnrv
— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) January 21, 2025
Licata certainly spoke for many frustrated MLB fans who are tired of seeing the same four or five teams, especially the Dodgers, grab all the coveted free agents.
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.