Baseball payrolls by average annual value as of July 15 (and reflecting the Yankees-Mets trade of July 16) as compiled by the commissioner's office for luxury tax purposes and obtained by The Associated Press.
Payrolls are for 40-man rosters and include averages of multiyear contracts plus $7,552,271 to cover health and pension benefits; clubs medical costs; insurance; workman's compensation, payroll, unemployment and Social Security taxes; spring training allowances; meal and tip money; All-Star game expenses; travel and moving expenses; postseason pay; and college scholarships.
The projected luxury tax is assessed at a rate of 17 percent on the amount above $117 million. The actual luxury tax will be assessed on the final payroll after the season.
Team Payroll
New York Yankees $180,322,403
New York Mets 116,253,927
Los Angeles 109,248,680
Texas 106,277,880
Boston 104,873,607
Atlanta 103,912,011
St. Louis 101,825,848
San Francisco 100,061,211
Philadelphia 95,338,704
Arizona 92,665,040
Seattle 92,268,063 Chicago Cubs 86,576,763
Anaheim 83,235,098
Houston 79,946,964
Colorado 78,738,492
Baltimore 75,502,154
Chicago White Sox 71,336,029
Minnesota 65,318,977
Cincinnati 65,083,196
Florida 63,281,152
Pittsburgh 62,314,723
Toronto 61,175,638
Detroit 59,006,941
Cleveland 58,108,824
San Diego 57,871,722
Oakland 56,596,691
Kansas City 48,475,322
Milwaukee 47,294,226
Montreal 45,853,889
Tampa Bay 31,660,602
Total 2,400,424,777
Take that Steinbrenner!
One other item I forgot to mention about lastnight was that I got a chance to tell Kelly Anne Fitzpatrick (I forget her married name)outside of the stadium that she is great and to keep up the great work. She smiled grasciously and said "thanks". Shortly after that I understand that my friends caught me on WABC channel 7 TV prior to the game. All in all, one helluva night.