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Yankees Again Top MLB Payrolls; More Players Eclipsing $20M Barrier
Published April 5, 2012
A record 14 MLB players will earn at least $20M this season, "more than double from two years," according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY. While MLB's "average salary increased" 4% to $3.4M, it is "getting crowded at the top of the pay scale, a trend that will continue." Nineteen player next season will earn at least $20M, and 26 players "will eclipse the barrier in future years." Six players last year earned at least $20M. Meanwhile, the Yankees enter the '12 season with a payroll of $197.9M, their lowest since '07. However, they still have the "highest payroll" in MLB for the 14th consecutive year (USA TODAY, 4/5).
ON THE THRESHOLD: In Philadelphia, David Murphy notes the Phillies will "once again enter a season on the verge of the luxury-tax threshold." The Phillies are "so close that we probably will not know until the end of the year whether they have eclipsed it." The club currently has a "projected official payroll" of about $170.63M, but only $166.57M of that is "in the form of guaranteed contracts." The luxury-tax threshold is $178M, but "each team is charged" about $10M for player benefits. That leaves the Phillies "actually sitting at about" $180.63M right now (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 4/5).
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| TEAM |
TOTAL PAYROLL
|
TEAM |
TOTAL PAYROLL
|
| Yankees |
$197,962,289
|
Braves |
$83,309,942
|
| Phillies |
$174,538,938
|
Reds |
$82,203,616
|
| Red Sox |
$173,186,617
|
Mariners |
$81,978,100
|
| Angels |
$154,485,166
|
Orioles |
$81,428,999
|
| Tigers |
$132,300,000
|
Nationals |
$81,336,143
|
| Rangers |
$120,510,974
|
Indians |
$78,430,300
|
| Marlins |
$118,078,000
|
Rockies |
$78,069,571
|
| Giants |
$117,620,683
|
Blue Jays |
$75,489,200
|
| Cardinals |
$110,300,862
|
D'Backs |
$74,284,833
|
| Brewers |
$97,653,944
|
Rays |
$64,173,500
|
| White Sox |
$96,919,500
|
Pirates |
$63,431,999
|
| Dodgers |
$95,143,575
|
Royals |
$60,916,225
|
| Twins |
$94,085,000
|
Astros |
$60,651,000
|
| Mets |
$93,353,983
|
A's |
$55,372,500
|
| Cubs |
$88,197,033
|
Padres |
$55,244,700
|
ON THE THRESHOLD: In Philadelphia, David Murphy notes the Phillies will "once again enter a season on the verge of the luxury-tax threshold." The Phillies are "so close that we probably will not know until the end of the year whether they have eclipsed it." The club currently has a "projected official payroll" of about $170.63M, but only $166.57M of that is "in the form of guaranteed contracts." The luxury-tax threshold is $178M, but "each team is charged" about $10M for player benefits. That leaves the Phillies "actually sitting at about" $180.63M right now (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 4/5).
