Going into 2026, the Los Angeles Dodgers will once again be the team to beat for three reasons. They are the defending World Series champions, Shohei Ohtani is the reigning MVP, and Kyle Tucker signed a $240 million contract for four years.
However, their two top sluggers are only receiving a total of $3 million in salary, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Ohtani is being paid $2 million with $68 million deferred. Conversely, Tucker is being paid $1 million, with a $64 million signing bonus awaiting him before spring training.
This past year, Ohtani batted .282 with 55 home runs, 102 RBIs, and 172 hits. Tucker finished with a .266 batting average, 22 home runs, 73 RBIs, and 133 hits with the Chicago Cubs.
In 2023, Ohtani made baseball history by signing a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers. He is receiving $2 million annually, with the remaining $680 million deferred and without interest, to be paid out between 2034 and 2043. It also includes a no-trade clause, keeping him a Dodger for life.
Meanwhile, Tucker’s deal includes that signing bonus as well as $30 million in deferred compensation. The deal value is approximately $57.1 million.
From a baseball standpoint, the Dodgers are world beaters. With Ohtani and Tucker in the lineup, there are still Will Smith, Freddie Freeman, and Mookie Betts. If they win it again, the Dodgers will be the first team since the New York Yankees (1998-2000) to win three consecutive World Series.
Overall, Los Angeles has the highest payroll in MLB, including the luxury tax, at $413 million. That is $100 million more than any other team in the league. Their overall cash payroll is $196,782,500.
Ben Roethlisberger backs Will Howard as the Steelers’ next QB option. A bold endorsement during a franchise reset, with Big Ben seeing toughness, grit, and long-term upside where others see a gamble
The Pittsburgh Steelers will enter a massive overhaul phase this offseason, as Mike Tomlin’s departure from the team will change the way the team has been ran for the greater part of the millenia.
With that in mind, Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger has issued his thoughts on who he believes should be the next quarterback for the Steelers.
Since he retired following the 2021 season, the team has been unable to find a long-term solution at the position, and this upcoming season looks to be no different. With a medium level first round draft pick and no great options outside the top quarterback available, the Steelers will likely have to turn to last year’s sixth-round pick in Will Howard or another bridge quarterback until next offseason.
Roethlisberger took to his Footbahlin podcast to issue his support for Howard, speaking on how he could be developed into the starter for the team.
“If Aaron’s not in the scenario, I would go with Will Howard this year. But what I would do is, I would bring in a veteran quarterback,” Roethlisberger said.
He then spoke on the reasons why he likes Howard specifically, mostly speaking on his intangibles.
“I love his heart, his fire, I think he is Pittsburgh,” Roethlisberger said. “I think he’s tough, he’s gritty, he’s going to get you what you want. Could be completely wrong, but I think you have a guy in there.”
He then issued extremely high praise for the quarterback, projecting that he could be a possible top ten or top five quarterback by the time he matures in the National Football League.
Roethlisberger Issues Tough Praise To Live Up To
“Do I think Will Howard is a top-10 quarterback of all time, like by the time he’s done? Maybe, probably not. But that doesn’t mean he can’t be a top-five guy in the league for numerous years. Or top-10 guy. And that guy can get you Super Bowls.” Roethlisberger said.
It is an incredibly bold claim for Roethlisberger to make considering Howard has zero regular season experience at the NFL level, so a top projection is quite far off. He was a sixth round pick in a slightly below average quarterback class last draft, so it is unlikely that he has the potential to be a top player, as many players in his round will fail to even become regular contributors.