Current 2018 MLB Payroll List: Brewers Only Winning Franchise Under $100M

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While most big-time sports leagues have some sort of salary cap, Major League Baseball does not. Depending on how much your owner is willing to lay out, you could be cheering for a team that’s paying out over $200 million (ie: Red Sox) or less than $80 million (ie: White Sox) — it varies so much. At the same time, it’s sort of quirky and leaves the door open for a team like Milwaukee (26th out of 30) to make a run as a true underdog with less resources.

Some fun facts before we get to the list — everything is as of June 18th, 2018.

  • The Mets (because they’re the Mets) have the most dollars sitting on the DL of all MLB teams with $72 million. By comparison, their active roster is currently at $75 million. They are, as most of you know, also shelling out big bucks to a trio of older dudes who are long gone.
  • Both the Red Sox and Diamondbacks are on the hook for individual contracts of $10-million-plus in the minor leagues . Rusney Castillo, who signed a monster contract with Boston in 2014 before being demoted in 2016, is making almost $12 million as a member of Triple-A Pawtucket. As for the D-Backs, Yasmany Tomas has a total salary over $13 million for Triple-A Reno. Neither has played in the MLB so far in the 2018 season.
  • Five teams have payrolls under $100 million. Only the Brewers have a winning record; they’re also in first place among NL Central teams.
  • San Francisco is the only team (of seven) that has a losing record with a payroll north of $180 million.

Complete 2018 MLB Payroll List:

Courtesy of Spotrac
Rounded to Nearest Million
*As of 6/18/18

  1. Red Sox — $240 million
  2. Giants — $213 million
  3. Dodgers — $191 million
  4. Cubs — $189 million
  5. Nationals — $188 million
  6. Angels — $183 million
  7. Yankees — $ 173 million
  8. Blue Jays — $173 million
  9. Cardinals — $169 million
  10. Mets — $164 million
  11. Astros — $164 million
  12. Mariners — $161 million
  13. Rangers — $152 million
  14. Orioles — $150 million
  15. Rockies — $147 million
  16. Indians — $142 million
  17. Diamondbacks — $141 million
  18. Royals — $141 million
  19. Tigers — $134 million
  20. Twins — $125 million
  21. Braves — $122 million
  22. Phillies — $105 million
  23. Reds — $104 million
  24. Padres — $104 million
  25. Marlins — $103 million
  26. Brewers — $96 million
  27. Pirates — $95 million
  28. Rays — $85 million
  29. Athletics — $82 million
  30. White Sox — $77 million

Complete list can be found here with breakdowns by player.

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