Ranking each MLB team's payroll heading into winter meetings
Front offices around the league have a clearer picture of their offseason finances with the non-tender deadline passing, as teams now have a general sense of how much money is currently committed to the 2019 roster. Total dollars spent will fluctuate slightly with some arbitration-eligible players having yet to agree to a salary for next season, though the following totals take into account salary projections courtesy Cots Baseball.
With executives for all 30 teams gathering for the winter meetings this week in Las Vegas, here's a snapshot of where each team's payroll ranks in early December. Keep in mind, the luxury-tax threshold sits at $206 million for the 2019 season.
1. Boston Red Sox
Guaranteed salaries: $145,350,000
Dead money: $18,455,000*
Arbitration projections: $59,675,000
Years 0-3: $1,725,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $225,205,000
*Pablo Sandoval
2. Chicago Cubs
Guaranteed salaries: $165,085,714
Arbitration projections: $40,750,000
Years 0-3: $2,300,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $208,135,714
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
Guaranteed salaries: $141,625,000
Dead money: $9,666,666*
Arbitration projections: $41,600,000
Years 0-3: $4,025,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $196,916,666
*Hector Olivera, Yaisel Sierra
4. Washington Nationals
Guaranteed salaries: $142,988,895
Arbitration projections: $42,650,000
Years 0-3: $4,600,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $190,238,895
5. New York Yankees
Guaranteed salaries: $101,842,857
Arbitration projections: $57,200,000
Years 0-3: $5,175,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $164,217,857
6. San Francisco Giants
Guaranteed salaries: $146,277,778
Arbitration projections: $4,250,000
Years 0-3: $6,900,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $157,377,778
7. St. Louis Cardinals
Guaranteed salaries: $118,266,667
Dead money: $5,000,000*
Arbitration projections: $22,750,000
Years 0-3: $5,175,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $151,191,667
*Mike Leake
8. Los Angeles Angels
Guaranteed salaries: $116,250,000
Arbitration projections: $17,500,000
Years 0-3: $6,325,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $140,075,000
9. New York Mets
Guaranteed salaries: $89,000,000
Arbitration projections: $40,000,000
Years 0-3: $6,900,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $135,900,000
10. Seattle Mariners
Guaranteed salaries: $122,690,476
Arbitration projections: $950,000
Years 0-3: $8,625,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $132,265,476
11. Colorado Rockies
Guaranteed salaries: $88,337,500
Arbitration projections: $39,250,000
Years 0-3: $5,175,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $130,762,500
12. Houston Astros
Guaranteed salaries: $83,150,000
Arbitration projections: $40,550,000
Years 0-3: $4,025,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $127,725,000
13. Cleveland Indians
Guaranteed salaries: $84,041,665
Arbitration projections: $23,850,000
Years 0-3: $5,175,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $118,996,665
14. Arizona Diamondbacks
Guaranteed salaries: $62,000,000
Dead money: $15,500,000*
Arbitration projections: $37,875,000
Years 0-3: $4,025,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $113,066,666
*Yasmany Tomas
15. Philadelphia Phillies
Guaranteed salaries: $72,700,000
Arbitration projections: $33,000,000
Years 0-3: $4,600,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $110,300,000
16. Atlanta Braves
Guaranteed salaries: $78,611,394
Arbitration projections: $24,700,000
Years 0-3: $5,750,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $109,061,394
17. Toronto Blue Jays
Guaranteed salaries: $61,928,571
Arbitration projections: $35,300,000
Years 0-3: $6,325,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $103,553,571
18. Texas Rangers
Guaranteed salaries: $72,416,666
Dead money: $12,000,000*
Arbitration projections: $12,800,000
Years 0-3: $6,325,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $103,541,666
*Austin Jackson, Prince Fielder
19. Milwaukee Brewers
Guaranteed salaries: $73,562,500
Arbitration projections: $19,200,000
Years 0-3: $4,600,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $97,362,500
20. Detroit Tigers
Guaranteed salaries: $57,500,000
Dead money: $14,000,000*
Arbitration projections: $15,555,000
Years 0-3: $9,200,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $96,250,000
*Prince Fielder, Justin Verlander
21. Cincinnati Reds
Guaranteed salaries: $68,948,214
Arbitration projections: $16,150,000
Years 0-3: $7,475,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $92,573,214
22. Kansas City Royals
Guaranteed salaries: $75,316,667
Arbitration projections: $0
Years 0-3: $8,625,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $83,941,667
23. San Diego Padres
Guaranteed salaries: $40,570,000
Dead money: $21,650,000*
Arbitration projections: $8,500,000
Years 0-3: $8,050,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $78,770,000
*Kaz Makita, Phil Hughes, Hector Olivera, Jedd Gyorko
24. Minnesota Twins
Guaranteed salaries: $38,900,000
Dead money: $5,950,000*
Arbitration projections: $28,000,000
Years 0-3: $5,750,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $78,600,000
*Phil Hughes
25. Baltimore Orioles
Guaranteed salaries: $58,118,782
Arbitration projections: $8,750,000
Years 0-3: $10,350,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $77,218,782
26. Pittsburgh Pirates
Guaranteed salaries: $55,867,667
Arbitration projections: $10,000,000
Years 0-3: $8,050,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $73,917,667
27. Miami Marlins
Guaranteed salaries: $46,857,143
Arbitration projections: $16,750,000
Years 0-3: $9,775,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $73,382,143
28. Oakland Athletics
Guaranteed salaries: $22,168,333
Arbitration projections: $35,000,000
Years 0-3: $7,475,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $64,643,333
29. Chicago White Sox
Guaranteed salaries: $12,040,000
Arbitration projections: $32,500,000
Years 0-3: $9,775,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $53,575,000
30. Tampa Bay Rays
Guaranteed salaries: $8,166,667
Dead money: $2,000,000*
Arbitration projections: $14,750,000
Years 0-3: $11,500,000
Projected Opening Day payroll: $36,416,667
*Evan Longoria
Arbitration projections courtesy MLB Trade Rumors, salary projections courtesy Cots Baseball. Figures are approximate and subject to change depending on arbitration.