NEW YORK (AP) – Even before Alex Rodriguez’s record payday, baseball players had a boom year at the bank.<\/p>\n
The average salary soared 17 1\/2 percent to $1,895,630, according to the annual survey released Wednesday by the Major League Baseball Players Association.<\/p>\n
The New York Yankees had the highest average salary for the second straight year and the sixth time in seven seasons. A year after becoming the first team to break the $3 million barrier, the Yankees averaged $3,656,542 as they won their third straight World Series title, up from $3,215,660 in 1999.<\/p>\n
Three other teams topped $3 million: Los Angeles ($3,141,883), Atlanta ($3,127,992) and the NL-champion New York Mets ($3,115,549).<\/p>\n
Minnesota had the lowest average at $601,680, with Montreal 29th at $767,420 and Kansas City 28th at $798,242. The Royals had the lowest average in 1999, $534,460.<\/p>\n
Texas, which last week agreed to a record $252 million, 10-year contract with Rodriguez, had the biggest payroll drop this year, falling from second at $2,825,735 to 15th at $1,870,723.<\/p>\n
St. Louis, which won the NL Central, rose from 17th at $1,515,094 to seventh at $2,390,042.<\/p>\n
The average salary increased 17.7 percent from 1999’s revised average of $1,611,166, the second-biggest rise since 1992, trailing only a 19.3 percent hike in 1997.<\/p>\n
This winter’s signings, led by Rodriguez’s deal, Manny Ramirez’s $160 million, eight-year contract with Boston and Mike Hampton’s $121 million, eight-year agreement with Colorado, should push the average over $2 million next season, just nine years after it topped $1 million for the first time.<\/p>\n
First basemen were the highest-paid players, averaging $4,996,933. They were followed by outfielders ($3,480,792), designated hitters ($3,366,872), second basemen ($3,158,209), starting pitchers ($3,064,021), catchers ($2,767,726), shortstops ($2,504,993), third basemen ($2,484,428) and relief pitchers ($1,220,412).<\/p>\n
Just four teams among the top 15 payrolls had losing records – Detroit (79-83), Baltimore (74-88), Tampa Bay (69-92) and the Chicago Cubs (65-97) – and the teams with the eight highest payrolls all had winning records.<\/p>\n
Only five clubs among the bottom 15 payrolls had winning records: the Chicago White Sox (95-67), Oakland (91-70), Cincinnati (85-77), Anaheim (82-80) and Colorado (82-80).<\/p>\n
Players with 2-3 years of major league service who were not eligible for arbitration averaged $474,617, while those with 2-3 years of major league service who were eligible averaged $1,337,145. (Associated Press)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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