The average MLB salary when Opening Day rosters are finalized Sunday "will break the $4 million barrier for the first time," according to Ronald Blum of the AP. The Dodgers are projected to open the season with a payroll at about $270M, "easily a record." The average salary projects to be about $4.25M, "fueled by the largest two-year growth in more than a decade." That is up from $3.95M "on the first day of last season" and $3.65M when '13 began. More than half of MLBers in the $9B industry "are millionaires." MLBPA Exec Dir Tony Clark in an e-mail wrote, "It isn't just the TV deals. From the parity on the field to the fan support & business off it (including the national TV contracts), the industry has never been healthier." Blum noted the Dodgers are No.1 in payroll "by a huge margin." The Yankees "project to be second" at about $215M, followed by the Red Sox at around $185M. The "low rollers are led" by the Marlins at about $65M, with the Astros "a few million dollars higher." The figures used in the AP study "include salaries and prorated shares of signing bonuses and other guaranteed income for players on active rosters, disabled lists and the restricted list" (AP, 3/31).
