Yankees' payroll triple that of Padres

[GaryMrMets]

Yankees' payroll triple that of Padres

By RONALD BLUM
.c The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - All eight playoff teams are among the top half of the 30 major league clubs when it comes to payrolls, led by the New York Yankees at nearly $203 million.

New York's payroll as of Aug. 31, the last day before active rosters expanded, was a major league-record $202,978,809 - nearly triple that of the San Diego Padres.

Among the other playoff teams, the World Series champion Boston Red Sox were second at $126,800,160, and the Los Angeles Angels were fifth at $96,140,560.

The NL champion St. Louis Cardinals had the highest payroll among the NL playoff teams, 10th at $83,510,604, and the Houston Astros were 11th at $77,453,843. The Atlanta Braves were 12th at $74,977,433.

Among the four AL playoff teams, the Chicago White Sox had the lowest payroll, 13th in the majors at $74,273,478. The Padres were 15th in the big leagues at $70,503,572.

Those figures are for 25-man rosters, the traditional measuring point in the major leagues.

Using 40-man rosters, the figures changed slightly, with the Yankees first at $204,156,832, the Red Sox second at $127,702,298, the Angels fifth at $97,030,040, the Cardinals 10th at $84,170,300, the Astros 11th at $78,315,359, the White Sox 12th at $77,431,936, the Braves 13th at $75,482,562 and the Padres 15th at $71,581,153.

The figures, which don't include earned performance bonuses, are unofficial. The rosters include players on the disabled list, and the salaries take into account prorated shares of signing bonuses and other guaranteed income.

Final payroll figures, which include both performance and award bonuses, will not be available until late December.

10/07/05 03:30 EDT

Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
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Playoff Payrolls List

.c The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - Payroll figures and rank for the eight major league baseball playoff teams. Figures

include salaries and prorated shares of signing bonuses. In some cases, parts of salaries deferred without interest are discounted to reflect present-day values. Earned performance bonuses and postseason award bonuses are not includes:

1, New York Yankees $202,978,809
2, Boston Red Sox $126,800,160
5, Los Angeles Angels $96,140,560
10, St. Louis Cardinals $83,510,604
11, Houston Astros $77,453,843
12, Atlanta Braves $74,977,433
13, Chicago White Sox $74,273,478
15, San Diego Padres $70,503,572

10/06/05 23:48 EDT

Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

[Timberwolf]

This just goes to show you that payroll is not the be all end all not to mention signing marquee names. It's about finding the right mix and guys who have it. Yankees clearly never had that all year. It's not just this year, but for the last four years.

[Rocky01]

Wow!

[yagsy]

I said this after the 2000 World Series, "Yankee fans, welcome back to the '80s". When George went after Denny Naegle, he started a clearing out of the farm. This nasty habit of his caused signings in the '80s of guys like "Yankee greats" Andy Messersmith, Rawley Eastwick, Ed Whitson, and others I can't think of right at the moment. I don't feel like looking them up. :D

The Yankees need to build from within. Even long time Yankee fans do not have anyonre really to root for besides Jeter. There's no emotional connection with Randy Johnson, Arod, Mussina, Giambi, Wright, Brown. These guys were HATED and now suddenly, Yankee fans have to support them coz they wear the pinstripes. Yankees need seriously look at the farm and start to concentrate on rebuilding. Then again, can the Yankee fans handle something like that? I think good baseball fans will accept that and beg for that. That payroll is ridiculous.

[Timberwolf]

You raised a great point about how Yankees fans have no attachment to the big name guys that were imported in recent offseasons, yagsy. I think Yankees fan can handle that. Question is can Georgie Porgie handle that.

[Spitball67]

if you guys think the Yankees payroll is high now, wait until after they build their new stadium. It's gonna be ugly.

[Royce]

The Yankees need to build from within. Even long time Yankee fans do not have anyonre really to root for besides Jeter. There's no emotional connection with Randy Johnson, Arod, Mussina, Giambi, Wright, Brown. These guys were HATED and now suddenly, Yankee fans have to support them coz they wear the pinstripes. Yankees need seriously look at the farm and start to concentrate on rebuilding. Then again, can the Yankee fans handle something like that? I think good baseball fans will accept that and beg for that. That payroll is ridiculous.

I agree with you. I HATED A-Rod and LOVED Soriano. Soriano was my FAVORITE Yankee. He was so exciting. I hating Johnson when he was on Arizona and never wantedh im in the first place; too much money, too many years. I wanted them to go after Beltran, a good move for the future. Mussina I like, Giambi I used to hate but I guess I like him now since he's on my team. Wright and Brown both suck therefore I hate both of them.

[yagsy]

Royce, I was a Yankee fan in the '70s and then suffered through the '80s and early '90s. Just awful time to be a Yankee fan, to see Jose Rijo pitch so well in Oakland and Cincy, to see Jay Buhner, oh Jay Buhner what you could have done with that right field porch... and so many others gone. Even recently with Mike Lowell off to the Marlins, a cast off, the Yanks sure could have used him (I think next season he'll be back to his old self).

Since I'm no longer a Yankee fan and haven't been one for five years, it's good. Welcome back to the '80s, lots of bad FA signings/trades no Championships. :nope:

[Royce]

I don't think I can stop being a Yankees fan. The only other NY team is the Mets, and don't get me started on them. The only other team besides the Mets that I get on TV is the Braves, who I don't mind, but would never root for. I've been a Yankees fan since I was born, and I'm not changing just cause of one five year span.

[yagsy]

Oh, my story about not being a Yankee fan goes back to being both a Mets and Yanks fan and following the Yankees in the '80s and HATING Clemens and Boggs wearing the "enemy colors". I tolerated Boggs wearing the pinstripes but I NEVER warmed up to the guy and still am not a fan. Even his HOF speech reeked of the selfish player he was. But when Clemens (I am really censoring myself here) put on the pinstripes? OH. MY. GOD! Had nothing to do with trading away Boomer. It had all to do with Clemens wearing the pinstripes. But what he pulled with Piazza in the July of 2000, to see how that "manager", his teammates all reacted to support Clemens' behavior, that was enough for me. After 30+years of being a Yankee fan, I was done. I felt betrayed and still do. I will never, EVER be a Yankee fan again. I thought I might if they got rid of Clemens but I knew what kind of guy/player he is, he can't lose enough for me. I wish he would just go away for good! But no, the betrayal runs too deep for me and I will never forget how I felt in July 2000. It was extremely easy for me to walk away.

I'm still a Mets fan-have been since '76, as I grew up in upper state New York so I didn't feel that NYY/NYM rivalry thing that people live near NYC have. And many of the fans where I grew up were Indians fans, Orioles fans, Red Sox fans, Pirate fans.

In '81, when the Yankees got Big Dave Winfield from the Padres, I became a Padre fan. With Tony Gwynn taking over as a rookie from Big Dave, it was extremely easy for me to remain a Padres fan.

So I'm not new to any of these team's histories. I also went to Miller Park this year for the first time and have enjoyed watching the Brewers since '99. I really like that team, especially this year's crop of guys. Fun team to watch.

Bottom line, I love baseball, I get the Extra Innings package because I'll watch ANY baseball game unless it's the Yankees/Dodgers. THAT I cannot take at all!!!!

[Timberwolf]

Yankees can all that payroll they want. They ain't winning a title anytime soon. If anything, I think their run could be over. I don't see anyone in the FA market that is going to make a difference. Yankees can go add all those bats, but it may not mean a thing. Their rotation should be okay. I don't see any guy that will make a difference in the bullpen. If anyone thinks B.J. Ryan or Billy Wagner or Trevor Hoffman will all of sudden be a setup guy, he or she is out of his or her mind.

Look for the Yankees to struggle to win that division next year. I think Boston will still be legit. Tampa Bay and Toronto could be really interesting. I know those two teams will spend money. I really like what the Devil Rays are doing. Next year, they will have a winning record, but will it be good enough to win the division.

[PissedPrincess]

I don't think I can stop being a Yankees fan. The only other NY team is the Mets, and don't get me started on them. The only other team besides the Mets that I get on TV is the Braves, who I don't mind, but would never root for. I've been a Yankees fan since I was born, and I'm not changing just cause of one five year span.

For the life of me, I don't understand how one can change teams. To me, it is sacreligious. God knows the Sox have pissed me off, but to change teams? :no: That would be giving up my integrity, honor, and sense of being.

You appreciate the good and suffer through the bad. You don't give up or switch allegiances.

No offense Yagsy, I am sure you are a nice person, just giving my point of view. :)

[Baseball Guru]

For the life of me, I don't understand how one can change teams. To me, it is sacreligious. God knows the Sox have pissed me off, but to change teams? :no: That would be giving up my integrity, honor, and sense of being.

You appreciate the good and suffer through the bad. You don't give up or switch allegiances.



AMEN sistah!!:thumbsup:

[rockin500]

switch allegiances? :eek: For most of my life the cubs have sucked ass. I surely am not going to the white sox now just because they had a successful season. It'd be like me giving up meat to become a vegetarian. aint happening!

[milky_way]

The Yankees need to build from within. Even long time Yankee fans do not have anyonre really to root for besides Jeter. There's no emotional connection with Randy Johnson, Arod, Mussina, Giambi, Wright, Brown. These guys were HATED and now suddenly, Yankee fans have to support them coz they wear the pinstripes. Yankees need seriously look at the farm and start to concentrate on rebuilding. Then again, can the Yankee fans handle something like that? I think good baseball fans will accept that and beg for that. That payroll is ridiculous.
Well, I love Mike Mussina. And Sheff is a fan favorite. If Randy leads us to a ring next year, he'd be worshipped in the Bronx. Frick, we loved Clemens, didn't we?

Bottom line: if they perform, the fans will love them. Although, A-Rod and Giambi will probably never be loved, by any fans of any team, ever.

But I get your point. There's always something special about rooting for a player from his rookie year on. I would rather the Yanks focus on the farm system too, but that's just not realistic with Steinbrenner in charge. He's pressured to put forward a team that will compete for the World Series every single year; you can't do that if you're rebuilding.

I think the Yanks will be doing a form of Youth Movement (they already started with Cano and Wang), but it'll be a slow, slow process.

[Thedatch]

For the life of me, I don't understand how one can change teams. To me, it is sacreligious. God knows the Sox have pissed me off, but to change teams? :no: That would be giving up my integrity, honor, and sense of being.

You appreciate the good and suffer through the bad. You don't give up or switch allegiances.

No offense Yagsy, I am sure you are a nice person, just giving my point of view. :)

I think it just depends what kind of fan you are...if you love baseball as a whole, then switching from one team to another isn't that diffucult, because you love everything about baseball. For me...I can't watch any other baseball games; they bore me. I tried watching other AL teams once, and I couldn't get out of the 3rd inning.

[PissedPrincess]

I think it just depends what kind of fan you are...if you love baseball as a whole, then switching from one team to another isn't that diffucult, because you love everything about baseball. For me...I can't watch any other baseball games; they bore me. I tried watching other AL teams once, and I couldn't get out of the 3rd inning.

Don't give me this B.S. :D I love baseball, I watch plenty of non-Sox games. But switching allegiance? You would get hung in Boston. :)

[rockin500]

i love baseball as well. i can watch any team play (except with the white sox announcers, but thats cuz they annoy me) any other team, regardless of league. switching allegiance to any of those other teams would be inconceivable.

[Royce]

Don't give me this B.S. :D I love baseball, I watch plenty of non-Sox games. But switching allegiance? You would get hung in Boston. :)


:laff: That's what I'm saying, you can't root for a team your whole life and just switch. Unless theres an extraordinary circumstance...but still, what could make you hate a team you love so much?

[milky_way]

(except with the white sox announcers, but thats cuz they annoy me)
"HE GONE!" :thumbdown

[Baseball Guru]

(except with the white sox announcers, but thats cuz they annoy me)


"You can put it on the booooard... YES!"

:laff:

[Timberwolf]

How about good guys and bad guys?

Better yet, I love the dead air silence when the White Sox are losing. Now that's funny.

[yagsy]

:laff: That's what I'm saying, you can't root for a team your whole life and just switch. Unless theres an extraordinary circumstance...but still, what could make you hate a team you love so much?

But that works for you and some others but I don't feel it is "the rule" for everyone. I described my situation to help better understand but obviously that was not understood. I realize now that noone could understand except one other person in my life who was my baseball buddy growing up and went through all the same with me. We've recently talked about how both of us so passionate about being Yankee fans have the same feelings now. But I don't think anyone can understand someone else's experiences unless you experience it with them. As such, you can't impose your values and rules on someone else.

So I applaud you :clap: for your remaining a fan no matter what of your favorite team. I have found I have standards and I will never say again I'm a "die hard fan" or a "fan no matter what". That's what works for me. I won't presume to judge someone else's "fandom" for whatever reason they choose. It's all up to them.

[Royce]

I didn't say you were wrong, I was just stating my opinion.

Unless theres an extraordinary circumstance...but still, what could make you hate a team you love so much?


I guess I don't know what could make someone switch teams. And maybe I will find out, maybe I won't.

[yagsy]

You're entitled to your opinion. That's very cool! :D

I just have a certain set of values when it comes to my choices of baseball teams. The Yankees disappointed me beyond anything I could tolerate. I didn't switch teams which seems to be the misconception, I just simply stopped being a fan of that team. I've been a Met fan for almost 30yrs now and I've been a Padres fan for almost 25yrs so I didn't switch. :confused: