Looking back, it can probably be argued this all started in February 2019, when the San Diego Padres signed free agent Manny Machado to a 10-year, $300 million deal.
The “small-market” Padres—25th in Revenue Sharing Market Score according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement in place at the time—had the gall to sign one of, if not the premiere free agent on the market at the time.
In just the third season after blowing up an ill-fated attempt at contention with big name players (and contracts)—Matt Kemp, James Shields, B.J. Upton—the team, instead of undergoing a years long rebuild, had the audacity to pick themselves up and try again, acquiring the best players available to try and help the team compete.