“Make Everybody More Mad,” Kike Hernandez Embraces Dodgers’ Role As MLB Villains Amid CBA Battle

Kike Hernandez and the Los Angeles Dodgers are aiming for a 3rd successive World Series title this year after going back-to-back in 2024 and 2025.

“Make Everybody More Mad,” Kike Hernandez Embraces Dodgers’ Role As MLB Villains Amid CBA Battle

Kike Hernandez (Image via X/@BRWalkoff)

The Los Angeles Dodgers will begin their pursuit of a historic 3-peat of the World Series title this Saturday with Game 1 of the National League Division Series (NLDS) against the Atlanta Braves. Ahead of this game, Kike Hernandez has embraced the role of villain as questions regarding the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) continue to bloom.

The current CBA will expire on December 1, 2026. In recent years, team owners have been planning to push for a salary cap. Earlier this year, in June, the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) initiated negotiations regarding the next CBA.

A day later, the MLB owners finally made a move. They proposed a salary floor of $171.2 million and a salary cap of $245.3 million.

This was the first time in more than 30 years that the owners had pushed for a salary cap. The last time they did it was in August 1994, which led to a major players’ strike and the cancellation of 948 games, including the 1994 postseason and the World Series.

The MLBPA is firmly against the introduction of a salary cap. While making the first move, they proposed a “Competitive Integrity Tax“, which would penalize teams for spending below $150 million.

With the negotiations at a standstill at the moment, there is a huge concern over a major lockout. A major work stoppage could lead to a delay in the start of the season, or wipe it out entirely.

In this CBA battle, the Dodgers have found themselves in the middle of it. According to Andy McCullough of The Athletic, the LA-based side has a payroll of $522.7 million. There is a $443 million gap between them and the Cleveland Guardians, who have the lowest payroll in the league at $79.4 million.

In the public eye, the Dodgers are villains of baseball. They have often been accused of “ruining” the sport with the multi-million-dollar moves they have made on players.

Kike Hernandez is now ready to embrace this villain role. The utility man, who is hoping for his 4th World Series ring with the Dodgers, aimed at the owners.

If you own a team, it would make sense that you’re trying to make that team the best possible, in order to win. Because if not, you’re just treating the team as a stock. … Sell the team to somebody who actually wants to compete and win.

Kike Hernandez said as per Andy McCullough

He then expressed that his team is not thinking much about the fans’ perspective of them as villains. The 35-year-old expressed that winning the World Series again would make everyone “mad“, something which would be funny for him.

We’ve just got to take care of business, win, and make everybody more mad. Which would be even funnier.

Kike Hernandez added

Another reason the Dodgers have found themselves under backlash is their deferred contract systems. Shohei Ohtani, who signed a 10-year, $700 million deal in December 2023, agreed to defer $680 million of his contract.

At the moment, the Dodgers have an estimated $1.086 billion in deferrals up until 2043. This includes the deals of Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Kyle Tucker, Edwin Diaz, and others.

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Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman says salary cap would not work for players

The introduction of a salary cap is one of the most discussed topics in MLB. While the owners actively push for it, the players’ union is against it. Los Angeles Dodgers’ first baseman Freddie Freeman says that this thing will not work for the players.

Freddie Freeman
Freddie Freeman (Image via X/@MLBONFOX)

Apart from the salary cap, the league has also proposed the elimination of deferred contracts, limiting free-agent deals to five years, an increase in minimum salary, and early access to free agency. Despite all of this, Freeman believes none of it will work.

It’s not going to work. Ask for a salary cap all you want. We’re not going to do that.

Freddie Freeman said as per Andy McCullough

Freeman is not the only player who seems against this. Stars like Juan Soto, Tarik Skubal, and Paul Skenes have all spoken against the implementation of a salary cap.

The MLB is the only “Big 4” league that does not feature a salary cap. It now remains to be seen what happens next.

After the previous CBA expired in 2021, there was a 99-day lockout as the owners locked out the players. This led to a delay in Spring Training and the start of the 2022 season.

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