2025 MLB Team Payrolls (May)

[Auggie]

Teams listed by in order by total payroll. Retained = players released; Buried = players buried in the minor leagues with major league contract earnings. Link: https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/payroll/_/year/2025


TEAM | TOTAL PAYROLL | ACTIVE | INJURED | RETAINED | BURIED

LAD | $332,246,524 | $212,725,880 | $117,397,579 | - | $114,893
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NYM | $324,489,692 | $255,812,098 | $68,368,026 | - | $288,062
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NYY | $290,189,465 | $159,534,236 | $117,378,500 | - | $384,077
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PHI | $282,625,817 | $281,235,784 | $1,225,000 | - | $53,118
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TOR | $245,857,500 | $216,896,771 | $23,876,000 | - | $3,180,643
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HOU | $218,118,423 | $150,895,796 | $32,728,833 | $646,681 | $343,350
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TEX | $214,790,031 | $190,977,245 | $22,385,500 | - | $345,354
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ATL | $213,285,304 | $155,626,106 | $38,770,000 | - | $6,645,107
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SD | $209,026,873 | $138,261,167 | $55,992,000 | - | $2,533,706
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BOS | $197,533,495 | $145,400,313 | $50,965,500 | $760,000 | $407,682
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CHC | $193,203,383 | $163,633,855 | $26,821,250 | - | $187,956
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LAA | $192,131,348 | $102,174,990 | $89,008,095 | $483,870 | $249,724
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ARI | $182,441,855 | $152,633,719 | $29,362,700 | - | $420,920
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SF | $170,777,062 | $158,132,527 | $6,330,000 | - | $314,535
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BAL | $165,652,576 | $99,235,844 | $65,979,932 | - | $436,800
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SEA | $151,649,488 | $116,707,006 | $19,079,758 | - | $247,348
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DET | $145,594,187 | $107,642,909 | $27,754,500 | - | $196,778
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MIN | $144,604,280 | $138,457,875 | $2,440,854 | - | $3,485,121
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STL | $134,608,712 | $132,436,937 | $1,542,500 | - | $629,275
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COL | $126,119,019 | $74,819,667 | $46,058,003 | - | $241,349
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KC | $124,666,572 | $115,673,006 | $8,764,750 | - | $228,816
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CIN | $114,677,993 | $84,071,785 | $27,418,252 | $3,000,000 | $187,956
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WSH | $112,892,271 | $70,513,694 | $8,976,500 | - | $327,432
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MIL | $110,883,090 | $81,723,902 | $27,916,000 | $4,086 | $1,239,102
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CLE | $99,657,269 | $67,749,126 | $30,814,100 | - | $94,043
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TB | $90,472,377 | $57,977,372 | $22,741,428 | - | $1,349,032
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PIT | $90,357,440 | $75,661,483 | $13,135,500 | - | $343,457
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ATH | $75,325,263 | $60,476,882 | $14,514,620 | - | $333,761
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CHW | $73,509,663 | $43,543,145 | $29,528,566 | - | $370,752
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MIA | $67,906,371 | $45,445,305 | $7,703,306 | - | $2,678,891


Link lists "Retained" totals at $151,031,144. The above must be incomplete. One would certainly expect to see more. Cleveland should have a higher buried listing as well. Triston McKenzie, who was waived and resigned to AAA, is earning $1,950,000.

2025 Competitive Balance Tax (Luxury Tax) is $241 million, based on the 40-man roster, plus any additional player benefits.

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I like to look at Total Payroll since it allows a franchise to make riskier investments and potentially build deeper rosters. It's a greater argument for a true salary cap and true revenue sharing.

It's amazing that Milwaukee, Cleveland, Kansas City and Sacramento are able to compete at their current level.

[True Dough]

1. Cleveland is killin' it!

Under $100 million and a 23-15 record.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays have spent almost $246 million and sit at 18-20.

Texas Rangers with almost $215 in payroll and only 18-21.

Baltimore and the L.A. Angels also underperforming compared to what they have forked out.

[WestMichRad]

2. Brewers are consistently competitive because...

… they have a great farm system, terrific coaching throughout the organization, and excellent scouting.

And I doubt they’ll ever be champions with their approach, because the star players will almost always leave before or when they reach free agency, and they can’t afford to shell out the big bucks to sign consistently reliable power hitting free agents. (A recent example: they didn’t even entertain the idea of trying to sign free agent Alex Bregman, even though desperate for a good 3rd baseman.).