MLB Payrolls 2017: Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs Among Biggest Spenders Before Opening Day

With the 2017 MLB season just days away, the usual suspects remain the biggest spenders in baseball. The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees have the league’s biggest payrolls, while the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox are not far behind.

Spending the most money, however, doesn’t always translate to success. The Chicago Cubs had the No.5 payroll when they finally won a championship last year, and their World Series opponent was outspent by 21 other teams.

READ: 10 highest-paid players for the 2017 MLB season

Let’s take a look at all 30 MLB payrolls at the end of 2017 spring training, via Spotrac.

1) Los Angeles Dodgers: $238,268,328

The Dodgers have had MLB’s highest payroll in each of the last four seasons. Clayton Kershaw will make the most money of any player in baseball with a base salary of $33 million in 2017, and he’s proven to be worth every penny. But the team’s enormous payroll hasn’t been enough to get them back to the World Series for the first time since 1988.

2) New York Yankees: $195,759,999

Even with a low payroll by Yankees’ standards, New York is still spending more money than 28 other teams. It probably won’t be good enough to get the Bronx Bombers back in the playoffs, and the team’s highest-paid players aren’t worth close to what they’re being paid. C.C. Sabathia’s $25 million salary is tied for ninth in the league, and Jacoby Ellsbury’s $153 million contract has proven to be one of the worst deals in recent years.

3) Detroit Tigers: $194,300,000

Only the Tigers have two of MLB’s five highest-paid players on the same team. Miguel Cabrera might be the league’s best hitter when he’s at his best, and Justin Verlander finished second in voting for the 2016 AL Cy Young Award.

4) Boston Red Sox: $193,060,428

The Red Sox are the favorites in the AL to reach the 2017 World Series. David Price is in the second year of a seven-year contract worth $217 million, but AL Cy Young winner Rick Porcello has surpassed him as the team’s ace. Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Xander Bogaerts will make just over $9 million combined this season.

5) Texas Rangers: $176,222,710

Starting pitcher Cole Hamels is the team’s highest-paid player with a base salary of $22.5 million in 2017. Elvis Andrus, Adrian Beltre and Shin-Soo Choo all make between $15 million and $20 million.

6) Chicago Cubs: $169,388,380

Jason Heyward’s $184 million contract might prove to be a major misstep by the front office, but starting pitchers Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta are well worth the close to $40 million combined they’ll be making in 2017. Reigning NL MVP Kris Bryant has a 2017 salary of just over $1 million, and Kyle Hendricks is still making six figures after finishing third in the NL Cy Young voting.

7) San Francisco Giants: $167,961,111

Johnny Cueto, Buster Posey and Matt Cain are all due more than $20 million this season. San Francisco ranked in the top 10 in payroll in all three of their championship seasons this decade.

8) Washington Nationals: $164,017,518

The Nationals are hoping that this is the year their big spending finally pays off and gets them to a World Series. Max Scherzer’s $210 million contract has been a favorable deal, thus far, though Jayson Werth is overpaid at $21.5 million in 2017. Bryce Harper is due $13.625 million two years before potentially signing a $400 million contract.

9) Baltimore Orioles: $159,227,115

Most of Baltimore’s big spending is on hitting, with Chris Davis, Adam Jones and J.J. Hardy ranking as their three highest-paid players. Starting pitcher Ubaldo Jiminez will earn just over $13 million.

10) Toronto Blue Jays: $159,116,668

Toronto avoided having to pay Jose Bautista a long-term contract, giving him a one-year deal worth $18 million this offseason. He’s making less than Russell Martin and Troy Tulowitzki, who are both set to make $20 million.

11) Los Angeles Angels: $150,318,333

Mike Trout has been MLB’s best all-around player for the last five years, but he’s not even the highest-paid-player on the team. That honor goes to Albert Pujols and his $26 million salary, and he’ll make almost $6 million more than the reigning AL MVP.

12) New York Mets: $149,740,500

Despite playing in the biggest market, the Mets aren’t among the 11 teams with a payroll upwards of $150 million. New York brought Yoenis Cespedes back on a four-year contract worth $110 million, and David Wright is set to make close to $20 million after playing just 75 total games in the last two seasons.

13) Seattle Mariners: $147,624,642

The Mariners broke the bank to give Robinson Cano a $240 million contract three seasons ago, but it hasn’t resulted in any playoff appearances for Seattle. Starting pitcher Felix Hernandez will make close to $2 million more than the second baseman in 2017.

14) St. Louis Cardinals: $145,562,500

No player on the Cardinals will make $20 million, and only four players have a base salary of more than $10 million. St. Louis gave Dexter Fowler a five-year, $82.5 million contract in the offseason.

15) Kansas City Royals: $134,975,000

After reaching the World Series in 2014 and winning it in 2015, the Royals haven’t decided to become big spenders. Alex Gordon leads the team with a $16 million salary.

16) Cleveland Indians: $120,867,365

The Indians nearly won last year’s World Series by spending less than the league average, and while the payroll is up a little in 2017, they are still in the bottom half in terms of players’ salaries. Cleveland made one of the biggest splashes this offseason by giving Edwin Encarnacion a three-year contract worth $60 million.

17) Houston Astros: $119,447,500

Among all the legitimate World Series contenders, Houston has the lowest payroll. Carlos Beltran signed with Houston to be the team’s highest-paid player on a one-year deal worth $16 million.

18) Colorado Rockies: $118,783,571

Carlos Gonzalez will make more than $20 million in 2017, remaining on the team after being at the center of trade rumors for a few years. Third baseman Nolan Arenado is wildly underpaid at less than $12 million this season.

19) Miami Marlins: $106,562,500

Eighteen teams have a higher payroll than the Marlins, even though they are on the hook for the largest contract in sports history. Giancarlo Stanton will make $14.5 million in 2017, but he’s set to make at least $25 million in each of the following 10 seasons.

20) Atlanta Braves: $103,657,291

It’s kind of hard to believe that the Braves have a higher payroll than one-third of the league, considering Atlanta was tied for MLB’s second-worst record in 2016. Freddie Freeman will make close to $21 million, and the team gave Bartolo Colon a one-year, $12.5 million contract.

21) Philadelphia Phillies: $102,960,000

Starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson is the team’s highest-paid player after accepting a qualifying offer of $17.2 million. Clay Buchholz will also make eight figures.

22) Minnesota Twins: $100,057,500

Joe Mauer still has two years left on the $184 million deal he signed in 2010. Mauer, Ervin Santana and Phil Hughes make up nearly 50 percent of Minnesota’s payroll.

23) Pittsburgh Pirates: $95,283,332

The Pirates have been competitive in recent years with one of baseball’s lowest payrolls, though it might be difficult for them to make the postseason with this roster. Andrew McCutchen is the only player making more than $9 million.

24) Chicago White Sox: $89,698,770

The White Sox shed some salary by trading Chris Sale to the Red Sox, though they are paying five players at least $10 million. The Padres will pay about half of James Shields’ $21 million salary.

25) Arizona Diamondbacks: $85,012,500

Zack Greinke has MLB’s second-highest yearly salary after inking a six-year, $206.5 million contract with Arizona in the 2015 offseason. He accounts for nearly 40 percent of the team’s payroll.

26) Cincinnati Reds: $84,991,785

Joey Votto has certainly earned his 10-year, $225 million contract, but he’s been the only bright spot in Cincinnati over the last three seasons. The Reds haven’t made the playoffs since 2013, and it could be a few more years before they get back.

27) Oakland Athletics: $73,103,333

It’s no surprise to see Oakland near the bottom of this list. Known for their unwillingness to spend money, the Athletics won’t pay a player that’s on the team more than $7.6 million this season.

28) Tampa Bay Rays: $61,060,332

Evan Longoria is the only player on the team making eight figures. Chris Archer is the team’s highest-paid pitcher at a shade under $5 million.

29) San Diego Padres: $55,477,500

The Padres haven’t won more than 77 games since 2010, and that isn’t likely to change with their current roster. Wil Myers recently signed a six-year extension worth $83 million, but he won’t make a base salary of more than $3 million until 2020.

30) Milwaukee Brewers: $52,900,000

The Brewers have virtually no chance to be competitive in 2017 with their payroll. Ryan Braun has a base salary of $19 million, and Milwaukee’s roster will be filled with players making the league minimum or close to it.