MLB Payrolls 2022: Dodgers, Mets, Yankees, Phillies Are Biggest Spenders On Opening Day

Spending big money in Major League Baseball usually translates to wins on the field. That’s expected to be the case in the 2022 MLB season with the top contenders owning the highest payrolls on Opening Day.

The Los Angeles Dodgers enter Opening Day as the overwhelming 2022 World Series favorites, having spent the most money on player salaries. The Dodgers are first in MLB with a $277,834,833 total payroll, according to Spotrac. The New York Mets are second with a $252,349,999 payroll, followed by the New York Yankees’ $240,290,714 payroll.

The Mets were poised to be baseball's biggest spenders until the Dodgers gave Freddie Freeman a $162 million contract during spring training. Mets owner Steve Cohen seems determined to turn the team into a winner, no matter the cost. New York’s offseason was highlighted by the record $43.3 million yearly salary that it gave to three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer in free agency.

MLB’s most popular World Series bet, the Mets have been pegged as the biggest threat to the Dodgers in the National League, even ahead of the defending champion Atlanta Braves. Atlanta is ninth in MLB with a $173,935,000 payroll after beating Los Angeles in the 2021 NLCS.

There is no clear favorite in the American League. In five straight seasons, the Yankees have made the playoffs with one of the league’s highest payrolls, but it hasn’t resulted in any World Series appearances.

The Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros might have the best rosters in the AL. They rank seventh and eighth with a $181,660,734 and a $173,939,599 payroll, respectively, according to Spotrac. Houston beat Chicago in the 2021 ALDS.

There are extremely high expectations for the Toronto Blue Jays on Opening Day. Toronto is just outside the top-10 spenders with a $167,360,605 payroll.

The Philadelphia Phillies ($221,738,462) and San Diego Padres ($208,022,618) are trying to spend their way to the playoffs with top-five payrolls. Philadelphia hasn’t reached the postseason in over a decade. San Diego’s only playoff appearance in the last 15 years came in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.

Several MLB teams aren’t hiding the fact that they don’t have much interest in winning games during the 2022 season.

The Baltimore Orioles ($30,221,166) have the lowest payroll in baseball. The Oakland Athletics ($32,548,334), Pittsburgh Pirates ($37,875,000 and Cleveland Guardians ($40,410,000 28) are all spending less on their entire rosters than the salary of MLB’s highest-paid player.

The Tampa Bay Rays ($75,347,813) have the lowest payroll of any team that reached last year’s playoffs.