Huge Team Payroll Disparity Revealed At Start of MLB Season

As we’ve seen from the recent contracts for Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, and Jacob deGrom, some MLB teams have plenty of cash to throw around in 2019 and beyond.

And, as a USA TODAY analysis of team payrolls in the majors heading into this season reveals, some do not.

According to salary information for MLB clubs’ 40-man rosters obtained by USA TODAY, there are eight teams who will open the season with payrolls under $100 million while there are three which will top $200 million in payroll on opening day.

The league’s biggest spenders last year, the World Series champion Boston Red Sox, are once again at the top of MLB with a $224.1 million payroll. Also in the $200 Million Club are the New York Yankees ($215.1 million) and Chicago Cubs ($214.7 million).

On the other end of the spectrum are the Tampa Bay Rays ($61.9 million), Pittsburgh Pirates ($74.3 million), Miami Marlins ($76.1 million), Baltimore Orioles ($80.8 million), Oakland Athletics ($91.1 million), Chicago White Sox ($92.8 million), San Diego Padres ($94 million) and Kansas City Royals ($96.7 million).

Of the teams on the low end, only the Athletics and Rays were in contention for a playoff spot last season and the A’s did end up securing a wild-card berth.

Of the top-spending teams, all three have been in the playoffs at least three times in the last four years and two (Cubs and Red Sox) have won the World Series once.

This year’s luxury tax is $206 million and current salary predictions show there are 11 teams with payrolls that are $60 million or more under that tax.

“The disparity in payrolls exemplifies why there may be a push for a salary floor in the next collective bargaining agreement, which players have openly discussed,” according to USA Today. “It’s disturbing to have a team like the Red Sox to have three pitchers (David Price, $31 million; Rick Porcello, $21.1 million; and Chris Sale, $15 million) earn more than the entire Rays’ team.”