Overview
- An Associated Press study, published Thursday, found the Opening Day average climbed 3.4% to a record $5.34 million.
- The Mets opened at $352.2 million in payroll, more than five times Cleveland’s $62.3 million, marking New York’s fourth straight year at No. 1.
- Mets outfielder Juan Soto is the top-paid player at $61.9 million for the second year in a row, a figure that nearly matches the Guardians’ entire payroll.
- Accounting for deferred salaries changes team rankings because MLB discounts future payments to present value, which would place the Dodgers at $395.2 million and first without the discount.
- Average pay has risen about 28% during the current five-year labor deal, which expires in December and sets up talks that could include a salary cap paired with a spending floor.