MLB: Team Payroll, by team
TeamTotal payroll,
in million USD
New York Mets353.55
New York Yankees277.00
San Diego Padres249.00
Philadelphia Phillies243.01
Los Angeles Dodgers222.72
Los Angeles Angels212.23
Toronto Blue Jays209.94
Atlanta Braves203.08
Texas Rangers195.87
Houston Astros192.67
San Francisco Giants187.93
Chicago Cubs184.22
Boston Red Sox181.21
Chicago White Sox181.16
St. Louis Cardinals175.64
Colorado Rockies171.11
Minnesota Twins153.59
Seattle Mariners137.12
Detroit Tigers122.24
Milwaukee Brewers118.76
Arizona Diamondbacks116.47
Washington Nationals101.19
Kansas City Royals92.47
Miami Marlins91.70
Cleveland Guardians89.42
Cincinnati Reds83.61
Pittsburgh Pirates73.28
Tampa Bay Rays73.18
Baltimore Orioles60.72
Oakland Athletics56.90
  • Region: United States
  • Time period: 2023
  • Published: Apr 2023

Data Analysis and Insights

Updated: Mar 27, 2024 | Published by: Statistico | About Us | Data sources

Top spender: New York Mets

The New York Mets lead Major League Baseball in opening day payroll with a total of 353.55 million U.S. dollars, significantly outpacing the second-highest team, the New York Yankees, by 76.55 million U.S. dollars.

New York's financial dominance

Both New York teams, the Mets and Yankees, dominate the payroll rankings, combining for a total of 630.55 million U.S. dollars, which is more than the bottom five teams combined (414.98 million U.S. dollars).

The gap between extremes

The disparity between the highest (New York Mets) and lowest (Oakland Athletics) payrolls stands at a stark 296.65 million U.S. dollars, illustrating the vast financial disparities within the league.

Middle-tier payroll cluster

Teams ranked from 10th (Houston Astros) to 20th (Milwaukee Brewers) show a relatively tight payroll range, with a difference of 73.91 million U.S. dollars between the teams in this bracket, indicating a competitive balance among the middle tier.

Under 100 million club

A total of seven teams have opening day payrolls under 100 million U.S. dollars, highlighting the financial constraints or strategic decisions limiting their spending compared to the league's top spenders.

Average payroll calculation

The average opening day payroll across all Major League Baseball teams is approximately 167.17 million U.S. dollars, showcasing the investment level teams are willing to commit to their rosters at the start of the season.

Top 5 vs. Bottom 5 comparison

The combined payroll of the top five spending teams (1.345 billion U.S. dollars) is more than double the combined payroll of the bottom five teams (414.98 million U.S. dollars), emphasizing the financial disparities within the league.

Geographical spending trends

Los Angeles teams (Dodgers and Angels) together allocate 434.95 million U.S. dollars toward their payrolls, showcasing Southern California as a significant financial player in the league.

Payroll diversity among top spenders

The top three teams (New York Mets, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres) account for a payroll expenditure of 879.55 million U.S. dollars, indicating that the league's highest financial commitments are not confined to a single geographic region or market size.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who leads Major League Baseball in opening day payroll?

The New York Mets lead with an opening day payroll of 353.55 million U.S. dollars.

How much total payroll do both New York teams, the Mets and Yankees, combine for?

Both New York teams combine for a total of 630.55 million U.S. dollars in payroll.

What is the disparity between the highest and lowest payrolls in the league?

The disparity between the highest (New York Mets) and lowest (Oakland Athletics) payrolls is 296.65 million U.S. dollars.

How many teams have opening day payrolls under 100 million U.S. dollars?

A total of seven teams have opening day payrolls under 100 million U.S. dollars.

Terms and Definitions

In Major League Baseball (MLB), Opening Day refers to the first day of the regular season, which traditionally takes place in late March or early April. It is a significant event for baseball enthusiasts and represents the start of the new professional baseball season.

In the context of Major League Baseball, a payroll is the total amount of money a team spends on player salaries for a specific period, usually for a season. It includes salaries, bonuses, and incentives that are paid to the players.

In MLB, a team is a group of professional baseball players who play together and compete against other teams within the league. Each team is operated by a franchise, which is responsible for hiring players, coaches, and other staff members.

Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization, consisting of 30 teams, which represent the top tier of professional baseball competition in the world. The MLB teams are divided into two leagues: the American League and the National League.

The American League (AL) is one of the two leagues that make up Major League Baseball. It consists of 15 teams and it employs the use of the designated hitter rule, which substitutes a separate player to bat in place of the pitcher.

The National League (NL) is the other league that forms Major League Baseball, alongside the American League. It comprises 15 teams and differs slightly from the AL in its rules, most notably by not employing the designated hitter rule, meaning the pitcher also takes a turn at batting.

The Designated Hitter Rule is a rule only used in the American League of the Major League Baseball. It allows teams to use another player, known as the designated hitter (DH), to bat in the place of the pitcher. The rule was established to increase offensive action in the game.

A franchise in Major League Baseball refers to the business operation of a team. Each franchise owns and operates one of the 30 teams in the league, and each is granted territory rights, player contracts, and league voting rights.

Player salaries comprise the earnings that a professional baseball player receives from his team/franchise as per the terms and conditions of their individual contract. A player’s salary is generally based on factors like their skill level, experience, and market value. The total of all players' salaries on a team is referred to as the team's payroll.
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