Mad Bombers: Yankees Again Lead The Way In MLB Payroll Figures
The average salary for MLB players this season "has topped the $3[M] mark for the first time," and the $3.15M average figure is up 7.1% from '07. Meanwhile, the Yankees are "again far and away leading as a team" with a payroll of $209.1M. The team features the three highest-paid individual players in 3B Alex Rodriguez, 1B Jason Giambi and SS Derek Jeter. With the luxury tax threshold rising to $155M, the Yankees are the only team that has to pay this year (MLB.com, 4/1). Twenty-two teams increased their payroll from last season, led by the Rays jumping 82%, but they are still below the average of $85.5M (USA TODAY, 4/2). The following lists the MLB team payrolls as calculated by both the AP and USA TODAY at the start of the '08 season.
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'08 MLB PAYROLLS
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TEAM
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AP
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USA TODAY
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Yankees
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$209,081,579
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$209,081,577
|
|
Tigers
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$138,685,197
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$137,685,196
|
|
Mets
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$138,293,378
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$137,793,376
|
|
Red Sox
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$133,440,037
|
$133,390,035
|
| White Sox |
$121,152,667
|
$121,189,332
|
| Angels |
$119,216,333
|
$119,216,333
|
| Cubs |
$118,595,833
|
$118,345,833
|
| Dodgers |
$118,536,038
|
$118,588,536
|
| Mariners |
$117,993,982
|
$117,666,482
|
| Braves |
$102,424,018
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$102,365,683
|
| Cardinals |
$100,624,450
|
$99,624,449
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| Blue Jays |
$98,614,957
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$97,793,900
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| Phillies |
$98,269,881
|
$98,269,880
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| Astros |
$88,930,415
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$88,930,414
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| Brewers |
$81,004,167
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$80,937,499
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| Indians |
$78,970,067
|
$78,970,066
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| Giants |
$76,904,500
|
$76,594,500
|
| Reds |
$74,277,695
|
$74,117,695
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| Padres |
$73,677,617
|
$73,677,616
|
| Rockies |
$68,655,500
|
$68,655,500
|
| Rangers |
$68,239,551
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$67,712,326
|
| Orioles |
$67,196,248
|
$67,196,246
|
| D'Backs |
$66,202,713
|
$66,202,712
|
| Twins |
$62,182,767
|
$56,932,766
|
| Royals |
$58,245,500
|
$58,245,500
|
| Nationals |
$54,961,000
|
$54,961,000
|
| Pirates |
$49,365,283
|
$48,689,783
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| A's |
$47,967,126
|
$47,967,126
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| Rays |
$43,820,598
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$43,745,597
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| Marlins |
$21,836,500
|
$21,811,500
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| MLB TOTALS |
$2,697,365,597
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$2,686,358,458
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NOTES: AP payrolls include salaries and prorated shares of signing bonuses. In some cases, parts of salaries deferred without interest are discounted to reflect present-day values. USA TODAY's payrolls was compiled from info obtained from MLBPA, club officials. Deferred payments and incentive clauses are not included. Team payrolls do not include money paid or received in trades or for players who have been released.
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