MLB Payrolls 2019: Red Sox, Cubs, Yankees Lead League, Phillies Not Among Top Opening Day Spenders

For the second straight year, the Boston Red Sox are the biggest spenders in baseball. The defending World Series champions have the highest payroll on Opening Day of the 2019 MLB season, ranking ahead of the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees.

Spending the most money was certainly a recipe for success in 2018 when the Red Sox had the best year in franchise history with 108 regular-season wins and an 11-3 postseason record. That strategy resulted in a quiet offseason for Boston, who wasn’t a big player in free agency.

With payrolls above the $206 million luxury tax threshold, both the Red Sox and Cubs shied away from pursuing the top players on the market. The Red Sox did re-sign Nathan Eovaldi and give a lucrative contract extension to Chris Sale.

The Yankees are assured to go above the luxury tax threshold during the season, despite passing on Manny Machado and Bryce Harper. New York became the third MLB team with a $200 million-plus payroll by re-signing pitchers like J.A. Happ and Zack Britton, in addition to signing Adam Ottavino and DJ LeMahieu in free agency.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants rank fourth and fifth, respectively, with sub-$200 million payrolls. Both teams were willing to spend money this offseason when they made big offers to Bryce Harper.

Even though Harper received a 13-year, $330 million contract from the Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia’s payroll is right around the league’s average. The San Diego Padres’ 10-year, $300 million commitment to Manny Machado barely put the team’s payroll into nine figures.

The Washington Nationals have the seventh-highest payroll after giving Patrick Corbin the biggest contract for any free agent pitcher this past offseason. Harper reportedly turned down a $300 million offer from Washington, and the Nationals gave Corbin a six-year, $140 million deal.

The league average payroll is fewer than $134 million. All but 10 teams are more than $50 million below the luxury tax. Six teams are spending fewer than $100 million.

Here’s a look at the 2019 MLB Opening Day payrolls, per Spotrac:

1) Boston Red Sox: $225,183,602

2) Chicago Cubs: $209,784,488

3) New York Yankees: $205,897,446

4) Los Angeles Dodgers: $197,701,668

5) San Francisco Giants: $173,629,652

6) St. Louis Cardinals: $163,370,266

7) Washington Nationals: $161,874,927

8) Houston Astros: $160,774,666

9) New York Mets: $159,390,930

10) Los Angeles Angels: $159,330,083

11) Seattle Mariners: $148,898,474

12) Colorado Rockies: $146,346,833

13) Philadelphia Phillies: $140,711,962

14) Texas Rangers: $126,575,499

15) Cincinnati Reds: $126,423,214

16) Milwaukee Brewers: $124,755,400

17) Arizona Diamondbacks: $122,858,766

18) Minnesota Twins: $121,276,933

19) Cleveland Indians: $119,241,701

20) Detroit Tigers: $116,478,400

21) Toronto Blue Jays: $116,037,171

22) Atlanta Braves: $114,382,103

23) Kansas City Royals: $100,563,292

24) San Diego Padres: $100,106,200

25) Oakland Athletics: $92,315,833

26) Chicago White Sox: $89,902,001

27) Pittsburgh Pirates: $73,641,002

28) Baltimore Orioles: $73,239,882

29) Miami Marlins: $71,903,332

30) Tampa Bay Rays: $64,901,866