MLB average salary rose 14.8% to record $4.22M last season.
This season, the MLB's average salary per player increased by 14.8%, it is now at an all-time high of $4.22 million dollars. This is the largest jump in salary since a 17.7% increase in 2000 to $1.61 million. The average had dropped in each of the previous four seasons before 2022, sparking player anger that was expressed by the union during a 99-day lockout that ended last March. Payrolls, which are a more complete reflection on spending, rose 12.6% to $4.56 billion from $4.05 billion. The Mets have boosted their payroll to a projected $370 million, well past the previous record of $297.9 million of the 2015 Los Angeles Dodgers. Some owners are arguing for significant change to lessen payroll disparity when the current labor contract expires after the 2026 season. The MLB has assigned another group this month to examine the economics of the league. MLB had $10.8 billion in revenue last year.
Union head Tony Clark said, "A salary cap is the ultimate restriction on player value and player salary. We believe in a market system. The market system has served our players, our teams and our game very well." Clark suggested some teams maintain low payrolls as strategy rather than because of lack of revenue. He also goes on to say, 'Can or won't is a valid question to ask when teams in an industry that has grown are still in a world where their payrolls are half of what they may have been 10 or 15 years ago." The level of excitement brought from this past offseason of trades, and signings should only help increase the league earnings, so that is expected to jump as well.
I wonder if the spike in league earnings is due more to inflation or to the resurgence of the MLB as a whole. It is surprising that the MLB is one of the only major sports leagues in the United States not to have a salary cap, I doubt this will be changed in 2026 even with increased support of it but it may change the sport for the better.
ReplyDeleteDo you think this upgrade in pay will extend to affect the minor league players in the current contracts the have or might it create a huge change upon the players shifting between minor league and the majors
ReplyDeleteI love the MLB! this makes me happy that they are getting an upgrade in pay. I hope that it continues to go up from this point. How long do you think this increase will continue?
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