Culver City Observer -

For as long as I can remember, the Yankees have been the highest-spending team in baseball.

Taking advantage of the fact major league baseball doesn’t have a salary cap like the National Basketball Association, the Yankees have bought players without much consideration for a self-imposed limit.

Oh, how that has changed.

The Yankees didn’t go after the primary free agents in recent weeks as rumors circulated they’re trying to reduce their $210 million payroll to $180 million by 2014.

Meanwhile, the new Dodger owners have replaced the Yankees in spending money. When the Dodgers signed 25-year-old South Korean lefthander Hyun-Jin Ryu this week for six years totaling $36 million and former American League Cy Young winner Zach Grienke for six years at $147 million their payroll for next season soared to $225 million, an all-time baseball record.

And that’s not all. The Dodgers had to pay Ryu’s Japanese team $27 million to win bidding rights over other major league teams. And they’ve also paid $42 million to sign Cuban outfielder Yasiel Puig, who’s likely to start next season in the minors.

Grienke became a free agent after compiling a 15-5 record last season with the Milwaukee Brewers and the Angels. He was regarded as the best free agent pitcher on the market.

Let’s remember that despite their high payroll the Yankees didn’t make the World Series last season. So there’s no guarantee the Dodgers are going to make it next season by out-spending everyone.

But it is good news for Dodger fans that the new owners have totally reversed the direction former owner Frank McCourt took. This ownership competes for every free agent they want and will make bold trades like the one last season that brought in Adrian Gonzales and others from the Red Sox.

Some baseball experts were a bit skeptical about Grienke’s worth. Some believe he is not a No. 1 pitcher on a pennant-contending staff. But the Dodgers were willing to give him a huge contract even if he’s only a No. 2 starter behind Clayton Kershaw.

This season Kershaw will make $11 million, but considering what they’re paying Grienke, they’ll have to give Kershaw a big raise when the time comes.

At a press conference Monday Magic Johnson, a member of the new ownership group, said the Dodgers are only doing what fans want. “We’re spending but it’s not crazy spending,” he said. “Every move has been to improve the team.”

Although no pitcher from South Korea has ever vaulted to the major leagues, baseball scouts regard Ryu as a likely starter. His presence, most likely as the Dodgers’ No. 3 starter, makes the rotation so deep it’s uncertain if Arran Harang, Chris Capuano, Josh Beckett and Ted Lilly from last year’s staff will be back.

Rau has a 95 mph fastball and is called by Dodgers’ international scout Bob Engle “an accomplished, polished pitcher.”

Chan Ho-Park, who came to the Dodgers from North Korea and won 124 major league games, gave the Dodgers background information on Ryu. Park told the Dodgers “he’s youthful but has the maturity of an older pitcher.”

Park then told Ryu Los Angeles has a large Korean population and that will make his transition easier.

General manager Ned Colletti said the Dodgers won’t be spending like this every season.

“Part of this is catching up,” said Colletti in referring to the lack of aggressive player acquisition during McCourt’s eight years as the owner.

The San Francisco Giants, the Dodgers’ long-time rival, are World Series champions. Now the Dodgers appear to have the weapons to give the Giants a stronger challenge.