Team payrolls

[ScotchMIrish]

https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/payroll/_/year/2025

https://www.mlb.com/standings/#

NL East Top payroll Mets. First place Mets.

NL Central top payroll Cubs First place Cubs

NL West top payroll Dodgers first place Dodgers

AL East top payroll Yankees first place Yankees

AL Central top payroll tie Tigers and Twins first and second place Tigers and Twins

AL West top payroll Astros first place Astros.

Second place teams are all higher than others in their division with the exception of Tampa.

Do low payroll teams not have any leverage to get a payroll cap? The current "cap" is too high and the penalties are not stiff enough. The Blues finally won a cup after NHL owners banded together and had a lockout to get a payroll cap and every other pro sport has a serious cap.

I think DH baseball is an issue with attendance but clearly the imbalance in payrolls impacts winning and winning impacts attendance.

[gpe13579]

This is the biggest reason for my lagging interest in the game. I pretty much watch because over the summer, on a week night there are few other sports options. They have expanded the wildcard as far as they can at this point to trick fans into thinking their team is in real contention. But the have's just keep growing the separation from the have nots each year.

Others still enjoy it and that's fine with me. For me, that is the biggest reason for my lagging interest.

Nothing to do with the DH.

The other main reason for me is that Cardinal baseball has become a three hour infomercial and I can't stand it. No problem with announcers being homers, but the ridiculous, over the top telecast are more than I can bare.

[Youboughtit]

https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/payroll/_/year/2025

https://www.mlb.com/standings/#

NL East Top payroll Mets. First place Mets.

NL Central top payroll Cubs First place Cubs

NL West top payroll Dodgers first place Dodgers

AL East top payroll Yankees first place Yankees

AL Central top payroll tie Tigers and Twins first and second place Tigers and Twins

AL West top payroll Astros first place Astros.

Second place teams are all higher than others in their division with the exception of Tampa.

Do low payroll teams not have any leverage to get a payroll cap? The current "cap" is too high and the penalties are not stiff enough. The Blues finally won a cup after NHL owners banded together and had a lockout to get a payroll cap and every other pro sport has a serious cap.

I think DH baseball is an issue with attendance but clearly the imbalance in payrolls impacts winning and winning impacts attendance.

Not without a minimum that is 75-80% (lowest minimum in professional sports is currently 80%) of cap which would be $300m. The only way there will ever be a cap is with forced full revenue sharing including ALL income TV and otherwise

[ScotchMIrish]

This is the biggest reason for my lagging interest in the game. I pretty much watch because over the summer, on a week night there are few other sports options. They have expanded the wildcard as far as they can at this point to trick fans into thinking their team is in real contention. But the have's just keep growing the separation from the have nots each year.

Others still enjoy it and that's fine with me. For me, that is the biggest reason for my lagging interest.

Nothing to do with the DH.

The other main reason for me is that Cardinal baseball has become a three hour infomercial and I can't stand it. No problem with announcers being homers, but the ridiculous, over the top telecast are more than I can bare.

I listen sometimes on radio. Cannot watch DH baseball.

[ScotchMIrish]

https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/payroll/_/year/2025

https://www.mlb.com/standings/#

NL East Top payroll Mets. First place Mets.

NL Central top payroll Cubs First place Cubs

NL West top payroll Dodgers first place Dodgers

AL East top payroll Yankees first place Yankees

AL Central top payroll tie Tigers and Twins first and second place Tigers and Twins

AL West top payroll Astros first place Astros.

Second place teams are all higher than others in their division with the exception of Tampa.

Do low payroll teams not have any leverage to get a payroll cap? The current "cap" is too high and the penalties are not stiff enough. The Blues finally won a cup after NHL owners banded together and had a lockout to get a payroll cap and every other pro sport has a serious cap.

I think DH baseball is an issue with attendance but clearly the imbalance in payrolls impacts winning and winning impacts attendance.

Not without a minimum that is 75-80% (lowest minimum in professional sports is currently 80%) of cap which would be $300m. The only way there will ever be a cap is with forced full revenue sharing including ALL income TV and otherwise

With the amateur draft and international signings they have gone in the direction of big payroll teams and the unions recently will slot limits and a limit on international spending. Changes in free agent compensation also benefitted big market teams and the union. A primary reason was the pirates who went from 20 consecutive losing seasons to playoff contender by spending more than any other team in the draft and international signings while having one of the lowest payrolls. Union hated it and big payroll teams hated it.

MLB needs to stop bending to the unions when the current collective bargaining agreement ends in 2026. If they want to go on strike let them.

[WLTFE]

This is the biggest reason for my lagging interest in the game. I pretty much watch because over the summer, on a week night there are few other sports options. They have expanded the wildcard as far as they can at this point to trick fans into thinking their team is in real contention. But the have's just keep growing the separation from the have nots each year.

Others still enjoy it and that's fine with me. For me, that is the biggest reason for my lagging interest.

Nothing to do with the DH.

The other main reason for me is that Cardinal baseball has become a three hour infomercial and I can't stand it. No problem with announcers being homers, but the ridiculous, over the top telecast are more than I can bare.

I listen sometimes on radio. Cannot watch DH baseball.

JFC! Who gives a [fork]?.. but just keep beating thatc dead horse!...we get it, you don’t watch baseball

[Dazepster]

This is the biggest reason for my lagging interest in the game. I pretty much watch because over the summer, on a week night there are few other sports options. They have expanded the wildcard as far as they can at this point to trick fans into thinking their team is in real contention. But the have's just keep growing the separation from the have nots each year.

Others still enjoy it and that's fine with me. For me, that is the biggest reason for my lagging interest.

Nothing to do with the DH.

The other main reason for me is that Cardinal baseball has become a three hour infomercial and I can't stand it. No problem with announcers being homers, but the ridiculous, over the top telecast are more than I can bare.

I listen sometimes on radio. Cannot watch DH baseball.

JFC! Who gives a [fork]?.. but just keep beating thatc dead horse!...we get it, you don’t watch baseball

Lol

DH baseball. Dreaded iT.

Hallelujah for DH baseball.

Had pitchers still had the ability to bunt, or hit a sacrifice or simply put the bat on the ball I might feel differently. But those days are decades gone at this point. For Shame.

Get lemons make lemonade. DH has been a Godsend for what became an Auto-Out with zero positive contribution. Stack that with 2 other duds and you have a dead offense. We been there. Often. 3 Auto-Outs 7-8-9. No bueno.

DH. Haven't had 1 as I envision the prototype to be. Edgar Martinez eg. Lol I want a Bopper, a home run hitter.

But there aren't that many of them around anymore. Least not readily available.

[ICCFIM2]

This is the biggest reason for my lagging interest in the game. I pretty much watch because over the summer, on a week night there are few other sports options. They have expanded the wildcard as far as they can at this point to trick fans into thinking their team is in real contention. But the have's just keep growing the separation from the have nots each year.

Others still enjoy it and that's fine with me. For me, that is the biggest reason for my lagging interest.

Nothing to do with the DH.

The other main reason for me is that Cardinal baseball has become a three hour infomercial and I can't stand it. No problem with announcers being homers, but the ridiculous, over the top telecast are more than I can bare.

I listen sometimes on radio. Cannot watch DH baseball.

Your obsession with the DH is quite strange. There are some great baseball players these days. Not watching because of this means you are missing out on a lot. In your thread on this the other day, you cited Adam Wainwright as wanting to hit. That is quite ironic as the AB where he ruptured his achilles at the beginning of 2015 likely prevents him from becoming a HOFer. He was never the same pitcher again after that. Which was quite a shame. Absent that injury, he probably picks up 30-40 more career wins and his career ERA is likely .5 lower. We also don't have to suffer through 2023 in his quest for 200 and he goes out with his buddies, Albert and Yadi.

The Cards had another pitcher, whose name is escaping me now. We signed him as a free agent, he hit a grand slam, pulled his lat on the swing and never pitched for us again...

[butsir01]

This is the biggest reason for my lagging interest in the game. I pretty much watch because over the summer, on a week night there are few other sports options. They have expanded the wildcard as far as they can at this point to trick fans into thinking their team is in real contention. But the have's just keep growing the separation from the have nots each year.

Others still enjoy it and that's fine with me. For me, that is the biggest reason for my lagging interest.

Nothing to do with the DH.

The other main reason for me is that Cardinal baseball has become a three hour infomercial and I can't stand it. No problem with announcers being homers, but the ridiculous, over the top telecast are more than I can bare.

I listen sometimes on radio. Cannot watch DH baseball.

Your obsession with the DH is quite strange. There are some great baseball players these days. Not watching because of this means you are missing out on a lot. In your thread on this the other day, you cited Adam Wainwright as wanting to hit. That is quite ironic as the AB where he ruptured his achilles at the beginning of 2015 likely prevents him from becoming a HOFer. He was never the same pitcher again after that. Which was quite a shame. Absent that injury, he probably picks up 30-40 more career wins and his career ERA is likely .5 lower. We also don't have to suffer through 2023 in his quest for 200 and he goes out with his buddies, Albert and Yadi.

The Cards had another pitcher, whose name is escaping me now. We signed him as a free agent, he hit a grand slam, pulled his lat on the swing and never pitched for us again...

Brad Penney?

[ICCFIM2]

This is the biggest reason for my lagging interest in the game. I pretty much watch because over the summer, on a week night there are few other sports options. They have expanded the wildcard as far as they can at this point to trick fans into thinking their team is in real contention. But the have's just keep growing the separation from the have nots each year.

Others still enjoy it and that's fine with me. For me, that is the biggest reason for my lagging interest.

Nothing to do with the DH.

The other main reason for me is that Cardinal baseball has become a three hour infomercial and I can't stand it. No problem with announcers being homers, but the ridiculous, over the top telecast are more than I can bare.

I listen sometimes on radio. Cannot watch DH baseball.

Your obsession with the DH is quite strange. There are some great baseball players these days. Not watching because of this means you are missing out on a lot. In your thread on this the other day, you cited Adam Wainwright as wanting to hit. That is quite ironic as the AB where he ruptured his achilles at the beginning of 2015 likely prevents him from becoming a HOFer. He was never the same pitcher again after that. Which was quite a shame. Absent that injury, he probably picks up 30-40 more career wins and his career ERA is likely .5 lower. We also don't have to suffer through 2023 in his quest for 200 and he goes out with his buddies, Albert and Yadi.

The Cards had another pitcher, whose name is escaping me now. We signed him as a free agent, he hit a grand slam, pulled his lat on the swing and never pitched for us again...

Brad Penney?

Thank you, that is it. Looking at his stats after that year, that more or less ended his career as well...

[ScotchMIrish]

This is the biggest reason for my lagging interest in the game. I pretty much watch because over the summer, on a week night there are few other sports options. They have expanded the wildcard as far as they can at this point to trick fans into thinking their team is in real contention. But the have's just keep growing the separation from the have nots each year.

Others still enjoy it and that's fine with me. For me, that is the biggest reason for my lagging interest.

Nothing to do with the DH.

The other main reason for me is that Cardinal baseball has become a three hour infomercial and I can't stand it. No problem with announcers being homers, but the ridiculous, over the top telecast are more than I can bare.

I listen sometimes on radio. Cannot watch DH baseball.

Your obsession with the DH is quite strange. There are some great baseball players these days. Not watching because of this means you are missing out on a lot. In your thread on this the other day, you cited Adam Wainwright as wanting to hit. That is quite ironic as the AB where he ruptured his achilles at the beginning of 2015 likely prevents him from becoming a HOFer. He was never the same pitcher again after that. Which was quite a shame. Absent that injury, he probably picks up 30-40 more career wins and his career ERA is likely .5 lower. We also don't have to suffer through 2023 in his quest for 200 and he goes out with his buddies, Albert and Yadi.

The Cards had another pitcher, whose name is escaping me now. We signed him as a free agent, he hit a grand slam, pulled his lat on the swing and never pitched for us again...

Pitchers get injured pitching. Should we go to a pitching machine to protect the pitchers? Warren Spahn had 2,000 plate appearance and never an injury.

In 2021 NL 9 hitters hit .166. AL 9 hitters hit .226. AL got 6 more hits per 100 at bats. 1 more hit per 17 at bats. 1 more hit every 4th game. That'll draw the crowds.

[illiniriles]

ICC, I was the one that referenced Waino's preference for NL (no DH) baseball. And after recovering from His ruptures achilles which is very difficult, he almost had to retire because of SHOULDER problems. After coming back from that, he was able to pitch very effectively. And even throw some complete games. He was a terrific ball player.

[Youboughtit]

https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/payroll/_/year/2025

https://www.mlb.com/standings/#

NL East Top payroll Mets. First place Mets.

NL Central top payroll Cubs First place Cubs

NL West top payroll Dodgers first place Dodgers

AL East top payroll Yankees first place Yankees

AL Central top payroll tie Tigers and Twins first and second place Tigers and Twins

AL West top payroll Astros first place Astros.

Second place teams are all higher than others in their division with the exception of Tampa.

Do low payroll teams not have any leverage to get a payroll cap? The current "cap" is too high and the penalties are not stiff enough. The Blues finally won a cup after NHL owners banded together and had a lockout to get a payroll cap and every other pro sport has a serious cap.

I think DH baseball is an issue with attendance but clearly the imbalance in payrolls impacts winning and winning impacts attendance.

Not without a minimum that is 75-80% (lowest minimum in professional sports is currently 80%) of cap which would be $300m. The only way there will ever be a cap is with forced full revenue sharing including ALL income TV and otherwise

With the amateur draft and international signings they have gone in the direction of big payroll teams and the unions recently will slot limits and a limit on international spending. Changes in free agent compensation also benefitted big market teams and the union. A primary reason was the pirates who went from 20 consecutive losing seasons to playoff contender by spending more than any other team in the draft and international signings while having one of the lowest payrolls. Union hated it and big payroll teams hated it.

MLB needs to stop bending to the unions when the current collective bargaining agreement ends in 2026. If they want to go on strike let them.

Not bending to the union. The MLB really only cares about the big markets hence its business model of no full revenue sharing like all other professional sports has

[MIDMOBIRDTWO]

This is the biggest reason for my lagging interest in the game. I pretty much watch because over the summer, on a week night there are few other sports options. They have expanded the wildcard as far as they can at this point to trick fans into thinking their team is in real contention. But the have's just keep growing the separation from the have nots each year.

Others still enjoy it and that's fine with me. For me, that is the biggest reason for my lagging interest.

Nothing to do with the DH.

The other main reason for me is that Cardinal baseball has become a three hour infomercial and I can't stand it. No problem with announcers being homers, but the ridiculous, over the top telecast are more than I can bare.

I listen sometimes on radio. Cannot watch DH baseball.

Your obsession with the DH is quite strange. There are some great baseball players these days. Not watching because of this means you are missing out on a lot. In your thread on this the other day, you cited Adam Wainwright as wanting to hit. That is quite ironic as the AB where he ruptured his achilles at the beginning of 2015 likely prevents him from becoming a HOFer. He was never the same pitcher again after that. Which was quite a shame. Absent that injury, he probably picks up 30-40 more career wins and his career ERA is likely .5 lower. We also don't have to suffer through 2023 in his quest for 200 and he goes out with his buddies, Albert and Yadi.

The Cards had another pitcher, whose name is escaping me now. We signed him as a free agent, he hit a grand slam, pulled his lat on the swing and never pitched for us again...

Pitchers get injured pitching. Should we go to a pitching machine to protect the pitchers? Warren Spahn had 2,000 plate appearance and never an injury.

In 2021 NL 9 hitters hit .166. AL 9 hitters hit .226. AL got 6 more hits per 100 at bats. 1 more hit per 17 at bats. 1 more hit every 4th game. That'll draw the crowds.

It is not going away Scotch. I was as strongly opposed to it as most traditional baseball guys, but have accepted that it is here to stay. You may as well join the party and accept it too. It is not going back to the days of Bob Gibson and Don Drysdale.

[kyace]

Losing the DH now would be like the NBA enforcing the travel rules and palming the ball.

[illiniriles]

funny