Dodgers plan to drop payroll closer to $200 million

The Los Angeles Dodgers have a ton of money to spend, but it doesn't mean they want to continue to spend it.

Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times writes that Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly believes the club's payroll will be closer to $200 million next season.

"We're looking toward building something long term, and sustainable," Boehly said. "I think sustainable is more like the league average."

With the league average closer to $140 million, the Dodgers may not be able to make that happen, but a $200-million target is more attainable.

The Dodgers' payroll tallied over $314 million to end 2015, according to spotrac, close to $95 million more than the New York Yankees, who owned the second-highest payroll in MLB, and $252 million more than the Miami Marlins, who had the lowest payroll in baseball.

After Brett Anderson accepted a qualifying offer on Friday, the Dodgers currently sit around $189 million for next season if all nine of their arbitration-eligible players are tendered contracts, so the goal is a reasonable one that could help the franchise limit spending, with a look more towards the future of their budding farm system.

"The farm system is looking great, compared to what it was three years ago," Boehly said. "I feel really good about that. I know that has been Stan (Kasten)'s mantra since he showed up. We're starting to see that come to develop."

The Dodgers set a major-league record with a $270-million opening-day payroll in April.