As we get set for Monday’s Opening Day (how to watch, live updates): The Sequel, let’s take time to talk money. Specifically, let’s run down each MLB team’s Opening Day payroll for 2017. Spoiler alert: You probably won’t be surprised by who’s No. 1 on the list ...
| 1 | |
| $ 242,065,828 | |
| 2 | |
| $ 201,539,699 | |
| 3 | |
| $ 199,805,178 | |
| 4 | |
| $ 199,750,600 | |
| 5 | |
| $ 177,795,368 | |
| 6 | |
| $ 175,909,063 | |
| 7 | |
| $ 172,354,611 | |
| 8 | |
| $ 172,189,880 | |
| 9 | |
| $ 167,846,918 | |
| 10 | |
| $ 163,676,616 | |
| 11 | |
| $ 160,375,333 | |
| 12 | |
| $ 155,187,460 | |
| 13 | |
| $ 154,268,842 | |
| 14 | |
| $ 151,680,000 | |
| 15 | |
| $ 140,925,250 | |
| 16 | |
| $ 130,963,571 | |
| 17 | |
| $ 124,861,165 | |
| 18 | |
| $ 124,343,900 | |
| 19 | |
| $ 112,437,541 | |
| 20 | |
| $ 111,881,100 | |
| 21 | |
| $ 111,378,000 | |
| 22 | |
| $ 108,077,500 | |
| 23 | |
| $ 100,575,946 | |
| 24 | |
| $ 99,096,770 | |
| 25 | |
| $ 93,768,785 | |
| 26 | |
| $ 93,257,600 | |
| 27 | |
| $ 81,738,333 | |
| 28 | |
| $ 71,624,400 | |
| 29 | |
| $ 69,962,532 | |
| 30 | |
| $ 63,061,300 | |
Yep, there are the Dodgers yet again at the top spot. It’s also worth noting that they top the average 2017 payroll of $137,746,636 by more than $100,000,000. So they’re on another level, even relative to the other well-heeled power teams. To put a finer point on it, Clayton Kershaw’s salary for 2017 -- $33 million -- is more than what the Padres are paying the 25 players on their active roster ($29,628,400). Yes, the Pads’ overall payroll is significantly higher than that, but that’s mostly because of all the money they’re paying players on other teams.
Redeemable currency, people.
(Data via the very excellent Spotrac, which has much more payroll info.)