The most expensive series in MLB history begins when the New York Mets face the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers have an MLB-high $413.5 million CBT payroll this season, and the Mets have a $375 million-plus CBT budget. When you add in the competitive balance tax both teams are paying, the total player expenditure for the 2026 season jumps to more than $1.07 billion. The highest paid players on the Dodgers and Mets are identified as Juan Soto, Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Tucker, and Bo Bichette. The New York Yankees are the only team besides the Mets with a payroll within $100 million of the Dodgers this season. National media revenue in baseball is shared among 32 teams, with the Dodgers' local TV deal generating an estimated $334 million per year.