Baseball's an expensive business, and there often seems to be no end to the amount of money big-market owners will shell out to see top players on their teams. As mega-contracts become more common across the league and payroll sizes continue to grow, some teams appear to see the annual luxury tax threshold as more of a mere inconvenience than any real deterrent to spending.
The average total payroll across all MLB teams in 2023 is $147,827,561. The Houston Astros, the reigning champions and current favorites to win the World Series with odds of +600, have a payroll of $180,554,999, which is 22.1% higher than the league average. Not far behind the Astros with World Series odds of +900 are the New York Mets, who top the league with the highest payroll of $334,233,332, 126% higher than the league average.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Oakland Athletics have the lowest 2023 payroll at $42,425,000, with the Baltimore Orioles, at $50,691,666, not far behind them.'
So, according to Sportrac, which teams are paying out the most in 2023?
MLB Teams With Highest Payrolls in 2023
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| RANK | TEAM | TOTAL PAYROLL |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York Mets | $334,233,332 |
| 2 | New York Yankees | $267,954,047 |
| 3 | San Diego Padres | $236,962,024 |
| 4 | Philadelphia Phillies | $231,686,189 |
| 5 | Los Angeles Dodgers | $217,612,634 |
| 6 | Toronto Blue Jays | $205,715,117 |
| 7 | Los Angeles Angels | $204,088,094 |
| 8 | Atlanta Braves | $188,277,500 |
| 9 | Texas Rangers | $182,832,500 |
| 10 | Houston Astros | $180,554,999 |
| 11 | San Francisco Giants | $175,590,000 |
| 12 | Chicago White Sox | $173,416,666 |
| 13 | Chicago Cubs | $170,365,000 |
| 14 | Boston Red Sox | $167,533,182 |
| 15 | Colorado Rockies | $166,250,466 |
| 16 | St. Louis Cardinals | $147,770,834 |
| 17 | Minnesota Twins | $140,551,190 |
| 18 | Seattle Mariners | $129,814,047 |
| 19 | Milwaukee Brewers | $106,644,960 |
| 20 | Detroit Tigers | $104,612,500 |
| 21 | Arizona Diamondbacks | $103,763,571 |
| 22 | Miami Marlins | $81,075,000 |
| 23 | Washington Nationals | $78,983,095 |
| 24 | Kansas City Royals | $75,825,000 |
| 25 | Cleveland Guardians | $75,010,000 |
| 26 | Cincinnati Reds | $70,624,500 |
| 27 | Tampa Bay Rays | $63,176,211 |
| 28 | Pittsburgh Pirates | $60,787,500 |
| 29 | Baltimore Orioles | $50,691,666 |
| 30 | Oakland Athletics | $42,425,000 |