For the first time in MLB history, half of the 30 teams in baseball “are projected to have an opening-day payroll of at least $90 million,” according to salary information cited by Bob Nightengale in a front-page piece for USA TODAY. Only the A’s and Padres this season “should have payrolls under $60 million,” and 11 teams are “projected to pay at least $100 million in major league contracts,” led by the Yankees, whose payroll will top $195M. There are a “record four teams whose opening-day payrolls will top $150 million.” The Marlins are “projected to have an opening-day payroll of $111.8 million, nearly twice as much as last year's payroll of $56.9 million.” In addition, the Brewers have “committed a franchise-record $100.96 million” this season (USA TODAY, 3/13). Projections from MLB and Padres Exec VP & GM Josh Byrnes indicate that the team’s Opening Day payroll “will be around $56 million with the final total being around $58 million when disabled list and call-up totals are computed.” Byrnes said Padres Vice Chair & CEO Jeff Moorad “probably gave us $5 to $6 million more to spend than the original projection.” In San Diego, Bill Center notes the projected Opening Day payroll “includes the $2.55 million the Padres paid to first baseman Brad Hawpe and pitchers Chad Qualls and Aaron Harang in contract buyouts” The club's projected figure "represents roughly a $10 million increase -- or 22 percent -- over last season's Opening Day figure of $45,869,140" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 3/13). MLB.com’s Corey Brock noted this is the “highest Opening Day payroll the Padres have had since 2008 ($73,677,616)” (MLB.com, 3/12).
