The Major League Baseball season starts on Sunday when the Chicago Cubs face the St. Louis Cardinals. According to the AP, as the first pitch is thrown, the average salary will be $4.25 million, the most it’s ever been in MLB history. That’s up from last year when it was $3.95 million. Why such an increase?
According to ESPN, the average baseball salary in 1976 was $50,000. This was the last year before MLB had free agency. For baseball players to earn more money they had to take offseason jobs. Today, MLB players are set for life with the amount of money they are earning.
Dan Halem, Major League Baseball chief legal officer said, “MLB’s revenues have grown in recent years, with the increase in national and local broadcast rights fees being a primary contributor. It is expected that player compensation will increase as club revenues increase.” Television deals are one of the biggest contributors. Not only do owners receive money for local broadcasts but also for national broadcasts. The television contracts help owners make more money allowing them raise player’s salaries.
Two of the highest paid players in the league this year are pitchers for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Clayton Kershaw will be paid $31 million while Zack Greinke is going to earn $27 million. That’s a lot of money.
The Los Angeles Dodgers also have the highest payroll. The total salary for all their players is around $272 million this year. That’s about $53 million more than the New York Yankees who have the second highest payroll at approximately $219 million. The Miami Marlins have the lowest payroll in baseball at $68 million. That’s a difference of $204 million between the Dodgers and the Marlins.
Baseball salaries will continue to increase as long as baseball has the television deals. Local television companies such as Root Sports will keep broadcasting games as long as they have a contract. ESPN and MLB network will show these games as long as they can. This will give owners more money to spend on players. Don’t be surprised if next year the average salary increases because these owners have money to spend.
What do you think of baseball salaries?
We really won’t know until the end of the season if the Marlins are in last place because they had the lowest payroll or they wind up in a better place. I think MLB needs a better control.