What happened: USA Today's Bob Nightengale reports that the Los Angeles Dodgers are pushing back against critics of the franchise's heavy spending as the next round of MLB collective bargaining negotiations heats up. The response lands as owners and the players' union spar publicly over the future structure of the sport's economics.

Why it matters: The timing is pointed: ownership has floated a $280M salary cap for the 2027 CBA, and the Dodgers have become the lightning rod in the spending debate. How a marquee, high-payroll club frames its position carries weight in a negotiation where commissioner Rob Manfred has openly warned that a cap push could trigger a work stoppage.

What to watch: Watch for the players' union response and whether the rhetoric escalates as both sides position ahead of the 2027 CBA deadline, with the threat of a work stoppage hanging over talks.