Scott Garceau: Show Me the Money - LCS Payrolls
That may be what a lot of owners are demanding of their GM's as baseball gets down to the final 4. They say money can't buy happiness and this year it looks like it can't buy you a spot in the League Championship Series. According to Spotrac, 9 of the 10 biggest spenders in baseball have been asked to turn in their equipment.
The two crazy money teams the Yankees (nearly $227M) and Dodgers (nearly $ 236 M) have been escorted out the front door. The Yankees didn't get a sniff, thanks for your service Mr. Jeter and the Dodgers were humbled by the Cardinals, good night Mr. Kershaw!
San Francisco is the only top 10 spender still playing. They rank fourth with a payroll around 172 million they'll meet St. Louis; the Cardinals are 11 at $128 million. The ALCS is the best bang for your money the Orioles are 15th of the 30 MLB teams with a $108 million payroll. Nobody has done more with less than Kansas City; the Royals will come to Baltimore Friday night with $94 million on the books they rank 20 out of 30 teams.
Five of the top 10 spenders didn't make the post-season (Yankees 227M, Phillies 169M, Red Sox 156M, Rangers 132M, Blue Jays 128M). On the other side of the coin the Pirates got to the post-season on a payroll that ranked 25th just under $73M and the A's were the best team in baseball for much of the season at $93M.
So what does it all mean? There's no salary cap in MLB that's why the Dodgers can spend $236M for players while the Marlins play the same game with about $50M invested. The playing field is far from level and the big spenders have a big advantage, but I'm just saying the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, and those other big spenders will have to pay for a ticket to watch the Orioles and Royals.
How They Rank (LCS teams Payroll)
4. San Francisco ($172.4 M)
11. St. Louis ($128.1M)
15. Baltimore ($108.7M)
20. Kansas City ($94.2 M)
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