|
 The average salary in Major League Baseball was just under $3 million for the 2009 season, based on an annual report released by the MLB Players Association. The league average of $2,996,106 for 926 players was an increase of 1.37 percent from 2008 average of $2,925,675, the smallest increase in average salary since 2004 when MLB saw the average salary decline from the year prior.
Leading the way was the New York Yankees with an average salary of $7,663,351 for 28 players. That was an increase of 11.66 percent from 2008 when the Bronx Bombers had an average salary of $6,862,918. The Yankees average salary was $3,032,658 higher than the second highest average salary held by the Chicago Cubs who’s average salary was $4,630,693 for 29 players. The Yankees have topped the highest average salary ranking for the past 11 seasons.
The largest percentage of increase from 2008 to 2009 for average salary came by way of the Florida Marlins who increased their average from $868,261 in 2008 to $1,327,968 for 31 players in 2009, an increase of 52.95 percent.
The largest drop in average salary for 2009 goes to the San Diego Padres, who saw their average salary drop below $1 million ($959,165) or a decrease in average salary from $1,720,590 in 2008, or a decrease of 44.25 percent.
Pittsburgh had the lowest average salary in 2009 of $790,167 for 31 players.
According to Ronald Blum of The Associated Press:
Six teams among the top eight by average salary made the postseason, joined by Colorado (15th at $2.93 million) and Minnesota (17th at $2.66 million). The Rockies and Twins were both eliminated in the first round.
[snip]
Among regulars at positions, first basemen took over with the highest average at $7.39 million, passing designated hitters ($7.34 million). Third basemen were next at $6.46 million, followed by starting pitchers ($4.66 million), outfielders ($4.58 million), shortstops ($4.44 million), second basemen ($4.32 million), catchers ($4.07 million) and relief pitchers ($1.78 million).
Average salary is based on total salary divided by the number of players on the roster at the end of the season. The Associated Press, using different calculating methods reported that the increase in average salary for the league was 2.4 percent compared to The Biz of Baseball’s accounting of 1.37 percent. The MLBPA calculations will be slightly different than MLB’s based on different accounting methods. Those figures should be released in the next few weeks (normally the week before Christmas).
Other points of interest from the report:
- Call it the A-Rod Factor – The AL Mean for third basemen was more than double what the NL Mean was. The AL had an average of $9,230,865 for 11 players compared to an average of $4,118,967 for 13 players.
- The DH – The Designated Hitter (with 80 or more games) accounted for an average of $7,336,833 for 12 players.
- Give Me Some Relief – The NL had 110 relievers compared to 84 for the AL (10 or less starts; 25 or more relief appearances). The NL had an average of $1,601,673 for relievers compared to $2,018,336 for the AL in 2009.
- Youth Is King – Out of the 926 players in the league last year, 249 had Major League service time of less than 1 year and 101 players with service time of 1-2 years. There were 17 players with 15 years or more service time.
- Where the Money’s At – The “sweet spot” for ML service time is between 14 and 15 years of service time. Those 8 players had a Mean of $8,082,883
- Money, Money, Money – In 1967, the average salary, as calculated by the MLBPA was $190,000. When accounting for inflation, that would be equal to $121,227 today. With a 2009 average salary of $2,996,106 and using the the average salary in 1967, when accounting for inflation, the average salary has risen 2346.74%
Select Read More to see the Minimum, and Average Salary as well as the Average Salary for each of the 30 Clubs in MLB last season compared to the same figures for 2008.
AVERAGE SALARY (by Club - 2009 and 2008 compiled by MLBPA)
| Club |
Rank '08 |
# players
('09) |
2009 |
% (+/-) |
2008 |
| N.Y. Yankees |
1 |
28 |
$7,663,351 |
11.66% |
$6,862,918 |
| Chicago Cubs |
2 |
29 |
$4,630,693 |
-0.97% |
$4,675,883 |
| Boston |
6 |
29 |
$4,581,533 |
9.16% |
$4,196,967 |
| Detroit |
7 |
30 |
$4,434,909 |
6.89% |
$4,148,959 |
| St. Louis |
12 |
28 |
$4,416,937 |
32.15% |
$3,342,380 |
| LA Dodgers |
5 |
35 |
$4,334,635 |
-0.84% |
$4,371,154 |
| LA Angeles |
3 |
28 |
$4,223,942 |
-7.38% |
$4,560,457 |
| Philadelphia |
11 |
31 |
$4,055,455 |
19.49% |
$3,393,916 |
| NY Mets |
8 |
38 |
$3,764,567 |
-3.87% |
$3,916,288 |
| Atlanta |
16 |
28 |
$3,680,180 |
36.65% |
$2,693,161 |
| Houston |
9 |
30 |
$3,464,718 |
-4.04% |
$3,610,588 |
| Chicago W. Sox |
4 |
28 |
$3,458,400 |
-23.18% |
$4,501,832 |
| Seattle |
13 |
32 |
$3,377,771 |
3.27% |
$3,270,666 |
| Milwaukee |
10 |
30 |
$2,937,499 |
-17.55% |
$3,562,592 |
| Colorado |
17 |
32 |
$2,926,721 |
14.59% |
$2,554,035 |
| San Francisco |
18 |
32 |
$2,899,400 |
21.11% |
$2,393,955 |
| Minnesota |
21 |
30 |
$2,664,878 |
37.73% |
$1,934,886 |
| Kansas City |
23 |
30 |
$2,621,263 |
43.99% |
$1,820,423 |
| Texas |
20 |
33 |
$2,402,506 |
20.64% |
$1,991,413 |
| Tampa Bay |
27 |
28 |
$2,297,365 |
44.04% |
$1,594,997 |
| Arizona |
14 |
30 |
$2,168,853 |
-28.07% |
$3,015,390 |
| Cincinnati |
24 |
36 |
$2,153,075 |
23.13% |
$1,748,586 |
| Cleveland |
22 |
28 |
$2,007,420 |
5.33% |
$1,905,804 |
| Toronto |
15 |
31 |
$1,825,987 |
-35.47% |
$2,829,826 |
| Washington |
28 |
33 |
$1,685,950 |
24.95% |
$1,349,305 |
| Baltimore |
19 |
31 |
$1,684,182 |
-15.61% |
$1,995,760 |
| Oakland |
25 |
32 |
$1,469,254 |
-15.60% |
$1,740,764 |
| Florida |
30 |
31 |
$1,327,968 |
52.95% |
$868,261 |
| San Diego |
26 |
34 |
$959,165 |
-44.25% |
$1,720,590 |
| Pittsburgh |
29 |
31 |
$790,167 |
-34.21% |
$1,201,117 |
Average baseball salary as compiled by the MLBPA and the minimum salary
| Year |
Minimum |
Average |
Notes |
| 1967 |
$6,000 |
$19,000 |
|
| 1968 (A) |
10,000 |
NA |
|
| 1969 |
10,000 |
24,909 |
|
| 1970 |
12,000 |
29,303 |
|
| 1971 |
12,750 |
31,543 |
|
| 1972 |
13,500 |
34,092 |
|
| 1973 |
15,000 |
36,566 |
|
| 1974 |
15,000 |
40,839 |
|
| 1975 |
16,000 |
44,676 |
|
| 1976 |
19,000 |
51,501 |
|
| 1977 |
19,000 |
76,066 |
|
| 1978 |
21,000 |
99,876 |
|
| 1979 |
21,000 |
113,558 |
(B) |
| 1980 |
30,000 |
143,756 |
(B) |
| 1981 |
32,500 |
185,651 |
(B) |
| 1982 |
33,500 |
241,497 |
(B) |
| 1983 |
35,000 |
289,194 |
(B) |
| 1984 |
40,000 |
329,408 |
(B) |
| 1985 |
60,000 |
371,571 |
(B) |
| 1986 |
60,000 |
412,520 |
(B) |
| 1987 |
62,500 |
412,454 |
(C) |
| 1988 |
62,500 |
438,729 |
(C) |
| 1989 |
68,000 |
497,254 |
(C) |
| 1990 |
100,000 |
597,537 |
(C) |
| 1991 |
100,000 |
851,492 |
(C) |
| 1992 |
109,000 |
1,028,667 |
(C) |
| 1993 |
109,000 |
1,076,089 |
(C) |
| 1994 |
109,000 |
1,168,263 |
(C) |
| 1995 |
109,000 |
1,110,766 |
(C) |
| 1996 |
109,000 (D) |
1,119,981 |
(C) |
| 1997 |
150,000 |
1,336,609 |
(C) |
| 1998 |
170,000 |
1,398,831 |
(C) |
| 1999 |
200,000 |
1,611,166 |
(C) |
| 2000 |
200,000 |
1,895,630 |
(C) |
| 2001 |
200,000 |
2,138,896 |
(E) |
| 2002 |
200,000 |
2,295,649 |
(E) |
| 2003 |
300,000 |
2,372,189 |
(E) |
| 2004 |
300,000 |
2,313,535 |
(E) |
| 2005 |
316,000 |
2,476,589 |
(E) |
| 2006 |
327,000 |
2,699,292 |
(E) |
| 2007 |
380,000 |
2,824,751 |
(E) |
| 2008 |
390,000 |
2,925,679 |
(E) |
| 2009 |
400,000 |
2,996,106 |
(E) |
| 2010 |
400,000 |
|
|
(A) First Basic Agreement between Clubs and Players Association
(B) Salary figures have been discounted for salary deferrals without interest, at a rate of 9% for a period of delayed or advanced payment
(C) Salary figures discounted for deferrals without interest or buyouts, and signing bonuses increased at 9% for a period of delayed or advanced payment
(D) $150,000 in the last 1/3 of the 1996 season
(E) The interest rate for deferrals with or without interest, buyouts and signing bonuses set at a rate described in Article XV(K) of the Basic Agreement for the period of delayed or advanced payment (NOTE: Starting in 2001, salary deferrals, buyouts and bonuses have been increased or discounted to the prime rate in effect on the Nov. 1 following the season plus 1 percent)
Source: Major League Baseball Players Association
OTHER NEWS FROM THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK
(THE BIZ OF FOOTBALL)
(THE BIZ OF HOCKEY)
(THE BIZ OF BASKETBALL)
(SPORTS BASH)
 Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is available for hire or freelance. Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network.
Don't forget to register and log in on The Biz of Baseball site to get updates via your in-box, and see information only logged in members can see.
Follow Maury Brown on Twitter 
Follow The Biz of Baseball on Twitter
 Follow the Business of Sports Network on Facebook
|
Maury Brown 
Subscribe to this comment's feed
