{
  "id": 715326,
  "title": "A-Rod Argues that Dodgers are 'Great' for Baseball",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/a-rod-argues-that-dodgers-are-great-for-baseball",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-13T00:37:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Newsweek",
    "slug": "newsweek",
    "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/sports/mlb/a-rod-argues-that-dodgers-are-great-for-baseball-12316618"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Alex Rodriguez, a former New York Yankee, recently defended the Los Angeles Dodgers against the popular narrative that they are ruining baseball. Rodriguez appeared on The Michael Kay Show on ESPN New York, where he and co-host Kay shared their support for the Dodgers' approach to building a team and playing the game. Rodriguez cited the recent success of the Yankees in the 1990s and 2009, when the team utilized financial resources to acquire key players like CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, and A.J. Burnett. He emphasized that money alone does not create a winning baseball team, as evidenced by the New York Mets' struggles despite a payroll of nearly $320 million. Rodriguez acknowledged that the Dodgers initially made similar mistakes under their president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman, who faced criticism akin to that of Mets owner Steve Cohen when he relocated from Tampa to Los Angeles. Rodriguez concluded that while fans can debate whether the Dodgers' approach is favorable, the fact remains that the team attracts significant attention, both from those who admire their success and those who root against them as a villainous organization.",
  "summary": "Former Yankee Alex Rodriguez is taking the side of the Dodgers when it comes to the argument that they're ruining baseball.",
  "key_points": [
    "Alex Rodriguez defends Dodgers against narrative they ruin baseball.",
    "Rodriguez cites Yankees' success in 1990s and 2009 as example.",
    "Dodgers' approach attracts attention from admirers and detractors."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Alex Rodriguez's defense of the Dodgers suggests that criticism of their approach may be driven more by jealousy than a genuine concern for the game's well-being.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}