Yankees Final Payroll $59 Million Higher Than MLB’s No. 2
1-liner, Baseball November 9th. 2009, 4:15pmMLB Payrolls: The final numbers are in, and the Yankees’ payroll ($220 million) was considerably higher than everyone else in the league (No. 2 was the Mets at $141 million). As Murray Chass notes teams ranked 2-3-5 did not make the postseason. This is his subtle way of saying the current system works. Here’s a better way to look at it – teams in the bottom third of the league (20-30) rarely make the playoffs, while teams in the top third (1-10) regularly make the playoffs. Cough, salary cap, cough. As a Yankee fan, we find this laughable – the Bombers’ payroll equaled that of four teams at the bottom combined: Nationals ($69), Athletics ($61), Pirates ($47), Padres ($43).
102 Responses to “Yankees Final Payroll $59 Million Higher Than MLB’s No. 2”
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November 9th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
A salary cap would only make the Yankees more dominant. This is stupid.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
The Mets really screwed the pooch with that $141 million.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Salary cap doesn’t work in baseball.
/Dodger fan
November 9th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
You’ll see an international draft before you see a salary cap.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
The Mets really screwed the pooch with that $141 million.
And so did the Cubs.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Explain please, sir.
As a Braves fan, this makes me smile.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
The combined 2009 salaries of Mark Teixeira, A. J. Burnett and CC Sabathia ($52,410,714) exceed the entire season-ending payrolls of three teams – Florida, San Diego and Pittsburgh. Add the salaries of Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter, and the total of $107,010,714 surpasses the entire season-ending payrolls of 21 of 29 teams
stunning
November 9th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Yankees will still be able to dominate with a salary cap by putting bonuses into contracts. Example: Guy has an 8 million dollar contract, but gets a 7 million dollar bonus if he hits over .300.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
where in the hell did my comment just go?
November 9th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
They’d still have the same revenues, and they wouldn’t just bank it. So rather than spending on free agents, they’d hire the best GM, best scouting director, best scouts, etc. Then they’d pay overslot for every draft pick and sign all the top latin american free agents. It would be a fucking disaster.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
how so?
November 9th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
I’m also curious as to how you handle a salary cap when you have players shuttling between AA, AAA, and the show. How do you account for all of the player movement?
November 9th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Not as stunning as Manhattan on parade day. Glorious.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
That Pirates number is very misleading. By the end of the season, the total is actual about $26 mil, roughly 10% of the Yankees costs.
Again, how hard is Cashman’s job? Just sign whatever all-star is available by throwing obscene money at him.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
TBL, standing up for owners and their inalienable right to pocket their profits instead of putting it into their teams.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Salary cap fixes nothing people.
Great baseball prospectus article here.
And I hate the Yankees as much as the next guy, but stop with the whining about their payroll. If your team could spend like that, you wouldnt be bitching.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Salary cap would make the owners even richer.
You think they will pass that savings on to the fans by reducing ticket prices, concessions and parking? Keep dreaming.
The only reason the owners want a cap is to line their own pockets.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
true, but my team(the indians) and the majority of other teams cant, and likely will never be able to
November 9th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
The current system, with teams in control of their MLB players the first 6 years, with teams receiving compensatory draft picks with free agent losses, and the wild card all make the system work.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
I wouldn’t. I want the Twins to win the WS via drafting and shrewd trades. If I only get to see one WS in my lifetime so be it.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
The key is, not signing a shitty free agent. Many teams do this. In some cases, they even trade for shitty players. Like the Pirates and their legendary Matt Morris heist.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
How much did they spend on smugness training?
November 9th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
why don’t you people get it, including you tbl. crying for a salary cap will never ever happen until there is a major tv deal like the NFL has.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
LET’S GO YANKEES! clap clap clapclapclap LET’S GO YANKEES clap clap clapclapclap…
November 9th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
TBL is a Yankees fan. Now I finally realize why he keeps pushing for a salary cap.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Yeah right. You can blow 50 million on Pavano and then go eh, who gives a shit.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
i think that’s the big part of the argument. hard to see the yankees stopping, and will they ever stop acquiring the best free agents out there? i mean, if they continue to dominate due in large part to spending an ever increasing amount of money…seems to me that something would almost have to be done.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
cough, contraction, cough
November 9th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
What incentive would a salary cap give the small market teams to spend up to the limit of the cap? The Padres payroll was $43 million at the beginning of the season before shedding dollars from Hairston and Peavy. A salary cap won’t stop a divorcing owner from bleeding the team’s assets. A salary cap only keeps the top tiers from spending, it doesn’t provide incentive for the cheap bastards to spend. Relevant example: Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Which isn’t going to happen, because each team retains its own broadcast rights, unlike NFL teams. You’ll continue to see TV deals for the playoffs, and 3 national games per week, but it will never closely resemble the NFL TV deal structure.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
This doesn’t apply to Cashman. If he screws up, most teams would be hamstrung by the bad contract, but the Yankees can just eat it and move on.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Yeah, in the most successful period the sport has ever seen. Good call.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Romeo Crennel is creeping the fuck out of me.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Romeo Crennel is creeping the fuck out of me
Marv Levy was out this AM
November 9th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
cough, playoff, cough
/college football’d
//because a playoff solves everything!!!
November 9th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Herm is reminding me of Clifford the big red dog.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
if small market team like the Pirates make a Morris-like mistake they can’t recover. if they Yanks make a bad deal for a player who ends up a bust, which they often do, they can cover it up by signing another high profile player and not miss a beat. i can’t blame New York for this though, they play by the rules.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
ding ding. so forget there ever being a salary cap.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
To be fair though, no team should be allowed to recover from making Matt Morris the highest paid player in franchise history.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
note: should have probably refreshed, my point was made at least 2 times before i posted it. sorry to fetch, bear, etc..
November 9th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
0 World Series during Pavano’s tenure with the Yankees, ergo it was theretofore a failure.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Between this and talk of a college football playoff it’s a lot of wasted words…neither is happening
November 9th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
@Beadlemania,
I have seen two WS and they were beautiful.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
point taken
November 9th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
yanks pay luxury tax(5-10 mil each) to those teams at the bottom (. Do those teams increase their respective payrolls at that clip? Nope. Owners pocket the money.
/hustled’
November 9th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
clown are you trying to set some kind of “missing the point” record today? Or did Darrell or Hef hack your account?
November 9th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Did anyone watch Mad Men last night?
November 9th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Well at least no Yankee fans are trying to point to their home grown talent
November 9th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
watching it right now
November 9th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
anyone care about Doyle Brunson? his “people” are offering him up as an interview subject. i play poker, dont know the first thing about him, though (other than he’s a top player)
November 9th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Jeter, Mo, Posada, Rivera, Cano, Joba, Hughes, Coke, Melky, etc. There’s more than a few.
Yes, it was awesome. That season went by way too fast.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Isn’t it awesome when [spoiler redacted] goes to [spoiler redacted] and tells them to [spoiler redacted]?! What a great episode.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
don’t care if he came back via FA, you can put Andy on that too.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
haha it just ended ruck
November 9th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
The point is if you’re a Beane disciple Twins fan, a playoff appearance is fine. Which is cool. But if you’re a Yankees fan (or even Yankees mgmt), it’s only a successful season if a title is won. That’s why they spend so much money.
They couldn’t and didn’t just suck up the Pavano contract and sign someone else to help them win a title.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
previous scouting director, previous scouting director, previous scouting director, said him already, good player, failed starter, potential failed starter, reliever, below-average outfielder. Great track record.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
i fucking hate peggy on mad men by the way
November 9th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
seriously, did you see what they were throwing out there on the mound the last couple years because of the Brown, Vazquez, and Pavano mistakes?
November 9th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
let’s say a team – Boston? – went out and got the 3 best free agents.
holliday.
lackey.
pick whomever.
are they guaranteed a title?
November 9th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Clown, I guarantee you the reason the Yankees spend so much money isn’t so they can win 11 extra games. It’s cause the AL East is so tough. Yet again you’re wrong.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Roy Munson > Doyle Brunson
November 9th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Wow, can’t believe I left him off.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
And not one of those guys is their top 3 players
November 9th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
I like Peggy… I find her… kind of attractive. I like Pete Campbell and his wife a lot too. They’re quirky characters. I’m so over Betty though.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
I do get a kick out of them ignoring the fact that Andy Pettitte left for 3 years.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
The best lineup that the 4 teams mentioned above could field, based on this year’s performances:
C Suzuki Oak
1B Gonzalez SD
2B Sanchez Pit
SS Guzman Was
3B Zimmerman Was
OF Willingham Was
OF McCutcheon Pit
OF Dunn Was
SP Lannan Was
SP Anderson Oak
SP Duke Pit
SP Ohlendorf Pit
SP Correia SD
CL Bell SD
RP Bailey Oak
RP Wuertz Oak
RP Breslow Oak
Doesn’t exactly put the fear of God into anyone, does it?
November 9th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Mo absolutely is.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
+1 for the 1979 Iowa Odor Eater’s bowling champion
November 9th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Not enough win shares.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
whoa betty attaractive does not compute, but different strokes for differnt folks. the campbells are great, and i can never be over betty…jan jones looked stunning in the italy episode
November 9th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
same could be said about the Red Sox and both of their world series wins.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
A reliever is one of your best players? Then you’re about a 70 win team.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
You could ask Doyle some GREAT questions… Ask about the old days… Best poker fight. Where were the best games? Best celebs he’s ever played against? What does he think of the new breed of poker player? Has it hurt or helped the pros? What does he like to do OTHER than poker, since that’s his job?
November 9th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Who’s the redhead, she’s my fave.
Besides January of course.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Pete Campbell is literally a penis wearing a suit. Guy is horrible, but a good character.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
serious question: will Igawa pan out?
November 9th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
just tickles me when red sox fans act as if they got it so bad compared to the yanks.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
anyone care about Doyle Brunson? his “people” are offering him up as an interview subject. i play poker, dont know the first thing about him, though (other than he’s a top player)
He’s a poker legend TBL. He’s reasonably interesting, but probably not for an interview, unless you want to hear stories we’ve all already heard.
He’s been pretty well overexposed though, since the poker boom.
I’d read it though. Jay V could probably help with some good questions.
November 9th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Don’t get me wrong. January Jones is still very hot. I’m just over Betty’s character. The storyline that the Drapers are going down next season always turn me off, like in The Sopranos. Also, being on Mad Men does wonders for your sex appeal.
http://z.about.com/d/movies/1/0/T/1/3/amwd2b.jpg
http://l.yimg.com/eb/ymv/us/img/hv/photo/movie_pix/universal_pictures/american_wedding/_group_photos/january_jones5.jpg
http://images.allmoviephoto.com/2003_American_Wedding/2003_american_wedding_023.jpg
November 9th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
same could be said about the Red Sox and both of their world series wins.
November 9th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
i say go for the int with brunson TBL, at very least it would be a completely differfent subject around these parts
November 9th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Best Red Sox players last year:
Youkilis – Drafted
Pedroia – Drafted
JD Drew – FA
Jason Bay – Trade
Victor Martinez – Trade
Ellsbury – Drafted
Varitek – Drafted
Pitchers
Lester – Drafted
Beckett – Traded their top prospect for him
Penny – FA
Papelbon – Drafted
Yankees
Jeter – Drafted
Tex – FA
ARod – trade
Cano – international FA
Posada – drafted
Swish – Traded
Damon – FA
Matsui – FA
Pitchers
Sabathia – FA
Pettite – Drafted, and then re-signed as FA
Burnett – FA
Hughes – Drafted
Rivera – International FA
Joba – Drafted
And then a bunch of poop that includes a lot of FAs
No real point to make, just laying the names out there for people
November 9th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
agreed. not sure how many people on here would appreciate it, but it would be a good interview.
November 9th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Christine Hendricks…looks like a nice girl
November 9th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Well fuck, bad link…use your own Google
November 9th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
I mean what’s her name in the show Butters. I get them all screwed up.
November 9th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
her name is Joan
November 9th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Oh, she’s Joan…dunno a last name
November 9th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
/Sterling’d
November 9th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Her name is Joan on the show. And, tell me you wouldn’t yes this and this.
November 9th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Just realized my comment is under moderation. I had three links of January Jones from before Mad Men.
“Don’t get me wrong. January Jones is still very hot. I’m just over Betty’s character. The storyline that the Drapers are going down next season always turn me off, like in The Sopranos. Also, being on Mad Men does wonders for your sex appeal.
http://l.yimg.com/eb/ymv/us/img/hv/photo/movie_pix/universal_pictures/american_wedding/_group_photos/january_jones5.jpg
http://images.allmoviephoto.com/2003_American_Wedding/2003_american_wedding_023.jpg“
November 9th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
You definitely need to get him on.
He is the Babe Ruth of poker. As a poker player I don’t think you could pass that up. He also has seen it all, back in the day things were tough and he has been robbed at gunpoint on numerous occasions and should have some great stories. He also should have some great stories about sports betting. He is a big time sports bettor. He also was an NBA prospect at one point, so he knows his stuff.
It should also get you some more people over to the site. I am sure there are a number of poker players who haven’t been to the site who would read the interview if nothing else and they may stick around.
November 9th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
TBL, def get Doyle for the interview…like Dirt said, I can help with questions if you want…
November 9th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
didnt he get drafted by the lakers
November 9th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Because in order to have a salary cap, you must have a salary floor. Otherwise the players would never accept the cap, as they would be guaranteed to make less money as a group.
November 9th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
I believe he was about to be, he then broke his leg really bad and was done.
November 9th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
johnnyb are you johnnybax?
November 9th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
last night was a great, great mad men episode. betty is stupid and a child. i think draper ends up with peggy at the end. sterling is the best anything at anything ever. love that character.
November 9th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
No, I am not Cliff. I know who he is though. Speaking of Bax, he should be getting ready to watch his boy Joe Cada try to wake down the WSOP main event. Cliff has him backed and is getting what may be $4mil+ if Cada wins.
November 9th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
yeah i know. apparently he knows how to pick the right people to back (annette, cada)
November 9th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Yeah, I don’t know his exact situation, but he has some good horses he is backing. I would like to know about all the whiffs he has to. Either way, he may be in line for the ultimate score for a backer.
November 9th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
the only people a cap serves is the owners. so they get more rich while the talent has their money locked in. sounds great for communism. its also done wonders for the nba and nhl and mls.
if teams cant put good products together than sell to someone who can or contract.