Most of the names that altered the Dodgers’ trajectory a decade ago aren’t in the major leagues anymore.
Adrian Gonzalez hasn’t played since 2018, when a one-year deal with the Mets ended with a June release. Hanley Ramirez hasn’t been on a roster since 2019. Carl Crawford? 2016. Josh Beckett? Even longer: 2014.
But that group of players joined marquee signings — or marquee by 2012 and 2013 standards — such as pitchers Zack Greinke and Hyun-jin Ryu to completely reinvent the Dodgers’ payroll, which was projected to rise a whopping 123.9 percent over the winter from a 2012 total of $95.1 million.
Most importantly, they were on track to surpass the Yankees for the largest payroll in baseball, at least until the signing of Vernon Wells shortly before the 2013 season began.
