Part 5/11:
The league operates under a "soft cap" system, allowing teams like the Dodgers to spend freely but penalizing excessive expenditures with hefty taxes. Nevertheless, this system accentuates the wealth gap, raising concerns about competitive balance. Smaller-market teams such as the Marlins, White Sox, Rays, Pirates, and Athletics often operate on much leaner budgets, and their ability (or inability) to compete becomes a critical issue.