MLB 2011 Opening Day payroll courtesy of Cot’s Baseball Contracts.
- New York Yankees – $207,047,964
- Philadelphia Phillies – $165,976,381
- Boston Red Sox – $163,822,475
- New York Mets – $142,797,166
- Anaheim Angels – $141,755,666
- Chicago Cubs – $134,004,000
- Chicago White Sox – $127,789,000
- Los Angeles Dodgers – $119,771,499
- San Francisco Giants – $118,198,333
- Minnesota Twins – $113,237,000
- St Louis Cardinals – $109,048,000
- Detroit Tigers – $106,953,000
- Seattle Mariners – $94,623,191
- Texas Rangers – $92,124,290
- Atlanta Braves – $91,044,524
- Baltimore Orioles – $86,942,583
- Milwaukee Brewers – $83,590,833
- Colorado Rockies – *$78,441,071
- Cincinnati Reds – *$75,508,000
- Houston Astros – *$70,923,000
- Toronto Blue Jays – *$64,090,000
- Oakland Athletics – *$62,645,000
- Washington Nationals – $60,816,429
- Florida Marlins – $57,695,000
- Arizona Diamondbacks – *$50,508,333
- Cleveland Indians – $49,426,567
- San Diego Padres – *$38,985,000
- Tampa Bay Rays – $37,466,308
- Pittsburgh Pirates – $34,700,000
- Kansas City Royals – *$32,870,000
* (Are not noted as Opening Day Payroll but rather Total Payroll)
46 comments
Fred
4/1/2011-1:47pm at 1:47 pm (UTC -4)
Of the teams listed, which has the largest percentage of its payroll out on the field each day? I seriously doubt it is the Mets.
wannybackstra
4/1/2011-1:56pm at 1:56 pm (UTC -4)
What, Bret Saberhagen isn’t starting tonight?
TRS86
4/1/2011-2:02pm at 2:02 pm (UTC -4)
OK, Harris or Bonilla for LF tonight?
TRS86
4/1/2011-1:51pm at 1:51 pm (UTC -4)
Big discrepancy in reported numbers today. USA Today has the Phillies opening day lineup (30 players after counting the DL guys) at $ 172,976,379. That’s for 30 players. So their 40 man roster would most likely be around 175M.
What’s the difference here?
TRS86
4/1/2011-1:55pm at 1:55 pm (UTC -4)
I see that Cot’s takes off 7 million for Oswalt. On the contract page it just says that the Astros were to pay 11M. Does not say how or when it was divided.
metsfan4decades
4/1/2011-2:05pm at 2:05 pm (UTC -4)
4th highest payroll in MLB and we’re not remotely predicted to compete for the division.
Long live Omar.
TRS86
4/1/2011-2:09pm at 2:09 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah it hurts. The 18M was a bad investment. I still stand behind the Johan and Beltran contracts. If things had went the way they were supposed to then we would have had a WS appearance by now and those 2 would have been justified.
metsfan4decades
4/1/2011-2:23pm at 2:23 pm (UTC -4)
I have no problem with the Beltran or Johan signings either.
njstuckintx
4/1/2011-2:20pm at 2:20 pm (UTC -4)
I think the Cubs are worse than the Mets, actually. Either way, you’re correct. Amazing that number of competitive teams with the 70-80 mil range. I guess it’s not how much you spend, but how.
metsfan4decades
4/1/2011-2:21pm at 2:21 pm (UTC -4)
Comcast giving me MLB Xtra innings free for a week.
Watching Myers dual it out with Halladay on the mound.
No score in the top of the 6th. Halladay has given up 4 hits and 2 of them were to Myers.
BenFran is no RF. He was just charged with an error out there on a ball that went off his glove and rolled up his neck. Almost cost them a run. They’re not only going to miss Werth’s bat.
njstuckintx
4/1/2011-2:25pm at 2:25 pm (UTC -4)
Taking all personal feelings about Myers out of the equation, he’s turned out to be a great signing by the Astros, both in last year on the cheap and the extension he worked out.
I would take him in a heartbeat on the Mets, although the Redneck thing he’s got going on does blend in better here in Tejas.
metsfan4decades
4/1/2011-2:27pm at 2:27 pm (UTC -4)
Redneck thing…lol.
Yeah, he’s been pretty solid.
1-0 Houston now.
I think the Phillies have 2 hits. This is a pattern I hope to see repeated all year.
metsfan4decades
4/1/2011-2:33pm at 2:33 pm (UTC -4)
Think I’m listening to the Astros booth also. They’re not half bad.
njstuckintx
4/1/2011-3:28pm at 3:28 pm (UTC -4)
Is Milo Hamilton there? He’s great, but sounds sauced all the time.
stickguy
4/1/2011-2:32pm at 2:32 pm (UTC -4)
look in the archives here, but I was one of the few that was begging for the Mets to sign him. Dirtbagness and all!
you could be right MF. A team built for the 3 run HR, with bad OBP now and not much power (outside of Howard).
And don’t think vicky is any happier being fronted by ibanez and francisco than Pagan is to have bay/duda and whoever in RF when beltran is out!
njstuckintx
4/1/2011-2:34pm at 2:34 pm (UTC -4)
I wanted him as well. Plus he could be our closer too and not complain about it! Oh well, tears and spilled milk, I guess.
Ceetar
4/1/2011-2:29pm at 2:29 pm (UTC -4)
apparently free month of mlb tv with a mlb at bat purchase for apple products.
Halladay at 100 pitches in the 6th, Myers at 46 through 5.
1-2 Astros.
metsfan4decades
4/1/2011-2:37pm at 2:37 pm (UTC -4)
Philly hitters making it easy for Myers by the amount of first swings they’ve been doing.
stickguy
4/1/2011-2:36pm at 2:36 pm (UTC -4)
Well, I guess I can see the game tonight on TV after all.
bummer though, since they play the Phils next week, I can see those games already.
wannybackstra
4/1/2011-2:44pm at 2:44 pm (UTC -4)
thats a pretty lousy lineup houston trots out there.
metsfan4decades
4/1/2011-2:45pm at 2:45 pm (UTC -4)
hahaha, I’ll tell you what…
Ben Fran lets a fly ball drop in front of him – one most would have had I guess b/c Wallace had to stop half way to 2nd to make sure and almost was thrown out on the throw.
Yup, Francisco is going to be an adventure out there for the Phillies.
They’re into their BP now. Halladay had a lot of Ks and didn’t go as deep as they needed him to.
wannybackstra
4/1/2011-2:46pm at 2:46 pm (UTC -4)
kevin correia opening day sp for pitt. yikes.
TRS86
4/1/2011-2:48pm at 2:48 pm (UTC -4)
Hey triple from Bourn. 3-0.
TRS86
4/1/2011-2:49pm at 2:49 pm (UTC -4)
Speed kills. Bourn scores shallow fly to RF. 4-0. I love opening day. If the Phillies lose then they will be the highest paid team in the majors to have a losing record.
metsfan4decades
4/1/2011-2:50pm at 2:50 pm (UTC -4)
4-0 now and yes, I’m counting.
Key to playing the Phillies: just get to their BP this year.
metsfan4decades
4/1/2011-2:49pm at 2:49 pm (UTC -4)
Is this true:
Cardinals confirm Holliday to have appendectomy. His return will be evaluated after surgery.
So hard to tell with it being April Fool’s Day.
If yes, the Cardinals are having all kinds of bad luck.
TRS86
4/1/2011-2:51pm at 2:51 pm (UTC -4)
Tis true. 2-4 weeks out.
wannybackstra
4/1/2011-2:53pm at 2:53 pm (UTC -4)
Great. He and Bay are both on my fantasy team.
metsfan4decades
4/1/2011-2:54pm at 2:54 pm (UTC -4)
Ouch.
TRS86
4/1/2011-2:56pm at 2:56 pm (UTC -4)
Not good indeed.
saltygary
4/1/2011-3:05pm at 3:05 pm (UTC -4)
Yea couldn’t he have done this 2 weeks ago. I have him in my RDM league and one of my 2 pay leagues…
Did you end up getting Either or Panda for your keeper?
wannybackstra
4/1/2011-3:24pm at 3:24 pm (UTC -4)
Ethier (and thank god with 2 OFs already on the shelf). But the best news is that I drafted Kung Fu in the 7th round (really the 13th with six keepers).
metsfan4decades
4/1/2011-2:54pm at 2:54 pm (UTC -4)
Appendectomy 2-4 weeks? I would have though that would be longer – like 6 weeks. Modern medicine has come a long way.
wannybackstra
4/1/2011-3:52pm at 3:52 pm (UTC -4)
I hope Philly loses because of the stupidity of not pinch running for Ryan Howard as the tying run.
Dirtysanchez
4/1/2011-4:03pm at 4:03 pm (UTC -4)
apparently they didnt need to
wannybackstra
4/1/2011-3:53pm at 3:53 pm (UTC -4)
So much for that idea. The no-depth Phillies just got a game tying hit from Wilson Valdez and will likely take the lead now.
kistics
4/1/2011-3:58pm at 3:58 pm (UTC -4)
How is it that Valdez hasn’t done sh** for the Mets (especially hitting in the clutch) while he goes to the Mets and drives in a game tying run in the bottom 9th? ugh…
kistics
4/1/2011-3:59pm at 3:59 pm (UTC -4)
He goes to the Phillies*
TRS86
4/1/2011-3:57pm at 3:57 pm (UTC -4)
Phillies GRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTED it out. Poor Astros.
metsfan4decades
4/1/2011-4:00pm at 4:00 pm (UTC -4)
Lyons, you stink.
I hate the Phillies.
Dirtysanchez
4/1/2011-4:03pm at 4:03 pm (UTC -4)
EPIC meltdown…6 straight singles…
wannybackstra
4/1/2011-4:06pm at 4:06 pm (UTC -4)
Wonder if Ceetar would concede that the Astros would be 1-0 with Mariano Rivera in the pen.
Dirtysanchez
4/1/2011-4:08pm at 4:08 pm (UTC -4)
hahhah..after seeing that….anybody would
Ceetar
4/1/2011-4:28pm at 4:28 pm (UTC -4)
The Astros would be 1-0 with ME in the pen.
metsfan4decades
4/1/2011-4:23pm at 4:23 pm (UTC -4)
Someone said it earlier in this string about the Cubs not looking good either despite their payroll….
I’m watching a bit of the Pirates/Cubs game. I know the Pirates project to be cellar dwellers but the Cubs just look awful.
metsfan4decades
4/1/2011-4:34pm at 4:34 pm (UTC -4)
The Mets and 1 April as opening day…..
Some of these sites think they’re so funny.
MMO reports Beltran reported to the park with knee soreness and is out of the lineup.
MetsFever reported Wright with a laceration slicing a bagel.
The sad thing is I’m so gun shy over the past several years, I didn’t immediately pick up on the pranks.