NEW YORK (AP) -The Yankees have no equal – in spending, not in winning.
Even before their latest spending spree, the Yankees finished 2008 with a record payroll of $222.5 million, according to figures sent to clubs in recent days by the commissioner’s office. The $75 million gap between the Yankees and the next-highest spender, the Boston Red Sox ($147.1 million), was more than the payroll of nine teams.
New York’s luxury tax payment – $26,862,702 – was just $141,000 shy of the Florida Marlins’ entire payroll, which came to $27,003,450.
Of course, the Yankees had less lofty numbers on the field, where their streak of 13 consecutive playoff appearances ended. New York’s payroll in 2007, when it was eliminated in the first round of the postseason for the third straight year, was $218.3 million.
.2 million) and the Chicago Cubs ($130.5 million). The two Los Angeles teams were next, with the Angels at $128.1 million and the Dodgers at $125.9 million.
Seattle, an AL-worst 61-101, was at $120.5 million and the Chicago White Sox at $113.6 million.
The World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies were 10th at $112.7 million, and the AL champion Tampa Bay Rays were 28th at $51 million. The only teams that spent less than the Rays were the Pittsburgh Pirates ($50.8 million) and the Marlins.
Teams spent $2.88 billion on players last season, up from $2.71 million in 2007. MLB estimates revenue at $6.5 billion, an increase from $6.075 billion the previous year.
Payroll figures are for 40-man rosters and include salaries and prorated shares of signing bonuses, earned incentive bonuses, non-cash compensation, buyouts of unexercised options and cash transactions, such as the $8.16 million Boston paid to cover the remainder of what Manny Ramirez was owed this year when he was traded and part of what Edgar Renteria was due.
In some cases, parts of salaries that are deferred are discounted to reflect present-day values.
The luxury tax was assessed using a different payroll method: the average annual values of contracts.
Add A Comment