With a potential lockout post 2026 I have been thinking about the payroll spread that is such a big issue - and it does suck, even as a Jays fan and our team is spending money. Imagine Rays fans (all 100 of them).
So how to dig into this? There are a few ways - opening day payrolls by team are available at The Baseball Cube with data going back to 1988. For 2026 I used Spotrac. Top salaries going back to 1985. Lets see what that tells us. I mixed it with data from a few other sources to expand back to 1977 when the Jays first existed. Minimum Salary: baseball-almanac.com and Top Salary: sabr.org Took a bit of hunting to find stuff, but it is mostly out there. The SABR site went back to 1874 ($2,800 for Fergy Malone).
Note: These figures are based on raw payroll (what a player costs them this year) not what they use for the CBT (tax). The CBT figure is over $20 mil higher for the Dodgers. Jays raw figure is $275,503,793 for 2026 btw. No guarantee figures are dead on as teams hide as much as they can.
Note: These figures are based on raw payroll (what a player costs them this year) not what they use for the CBT (tax). The CBT figure is over $20 mil higher for the Dodgers. Jays raw figure is $275,503,793 for 2026 btw. No guarantee figures are dead on as teams hide as much as they can.
| Year | Total Payroll | Minimum | Average | Top Player Salary |
Top Salary | Highest Payroll | High $ | Lowest Payroll | Low $ | Top Salary vs Min |
Top Team vs Min |
| 2026 | 5,213,793,434 | 780,000 | 6,684,351 | Kyle Tucker | $55,000,000 | Los Angeles Dodgers | $375,665,747 | Miami Marlins | $52,180,000 | 70.5 | 7.2 |
| 2025 | 5,075,316,630 | 760,000 | 5,200,000 | Juan Soto | $51,875,000 | Los Angeles Dodgers | $331,013,580 | Miami Marlins | $68,004,097 | 68.3 | 4.9 |
| 2024 | 4,906,571,671 | 740,000 | 4,888,833 | Max Scherzer | $43,333,333 | New York Mets | $307,792,124 | Oakland Athletics | $61,945,000 | 58.6 | 5.0 |
| 2023 | 4,451,414,228 | 720,000 | 4,644,046 | Max Scherzer | $43,333,333 | New York Mets | $334,233,332 | Oakland Athletics | $43,145,000 | 60.2 | 7.7 |
| 2022 | 4,200,988,230 | 700,000 | 4,317,736 | Max Scherzer | $43,333,333 | Los Angeles Dodgers | $285,508,333 | Oakland Athletics | $32,548,334 | 61.9 | 8.8 |
| 2021 | 3,825,147,026 | 570,500 | 4,170,000 | Mike Trout | $37,116,667 | Los Angeles Dodgers | $241,372,403 | Pittsburgh Pirates | $45,599,000 | 65.1 | 5.3 |
| 2020 | 3,735,758,835 | 563,500 | 4,724,815 | Mike Trout | $36,000,000 | New York Yankees | $214,291,339 | Pittsburgh Pirates | $42,119,000 | 63.9 | 5.1 |
| 2019 | 4,007,869,480 | 555,000 | 4,509,524 | Max Scherzer | $42,142,857 | Boston Red Sox | $222,171,123 | Tampa Bay Rays | $60,444,931 | 75.9 | 3.7 |
| 2018 | 4,141,041,635 | 545,000 | 4,095,686 | Mike Trout | $33,250,000 | Boston Red Sox | $235,649,368 | Oakland Athletics | $68,534,631 | 61.0 | 3.4 |
| 2017 | 3,878,284,045 | 535,000 | 4,097,122 | Clayton Kershaw | $33,000,000 | Los Angeles Dodgers | $187,989,811 | San Diego Padres | $34,574,400 | 61.7 | 5.4 |
| 2016 | 3,937,842,897 | 507,500 | 3,966,020 | Clayton Kershaw | $32,000,000 | Los Angeles Dodgers | $253,639,162 | Milwaukee Brewers | $62,964,319 | 63.1 | 4.0 |
| 2015 | 3,658,284,542 | 507,500 | 3,952,252 | Clayton Kershaw | $31,000,000 | Los Angeles Dodgers | $230,352,402 | Arizona Diamondbacks | $65,770,333 | 61.1 | 3.5 |
| 2014 | 3,453,960,397 | 500,000 | 3,818,923 | Zack Greinke | $28,000,000 | Los Angeles Dodgers | $235,295,219 | Houston Astros | $44,544,174 | 56.0 | 5.3 |
| 2013 | 3,187,568,088 | 490,000 | 3,386,212 | Alex Rodriguez | $29,000,000 | New York Yankees | $228,995,945 | Houston Astros | $24,328,538 | 59.2 | 9.4 |
| 2012 | 2,940,657,192 | 480,000 | 3,213,479 | Alex Rodriguez | $30,000,000 | New York Yankees | $197,962,289 | San Diego Padres | $55,244,700 | 62.5 | 3.6 |
| 2011 | 2,786,161,291 | 414,000 | 3,095,183 | Alex Rodriguez | $32,000,000 | New York Yankees | $202,689,028 | Kansas City Royals | $36,126,000 | 77.3 | 5.6 |
| 2010 | 2,730,601,685 | 400,000 | 3,014,572 | Alex Rodriguez | $33,000,000 | New York Yankees | $206,333,389 | Pittsburgh Pirates | $34,943,000 | 82.5 | 5.9 |
| 2009 | 2,655,395,194 | 400,000 | 2,996,106 | Alex Rodriguez | $33,000,000 | New York Yankees | $201,449,189 | Florida Marlins | $36,834,000 | 82.5 | 5.5 |
| 2008 | 2,686,433,458 | 390,000 | 2,925,679 | Alex Rodriguez | $28,000,000 | New York Yankees | $209,081,577 | Florida Marlins | $21,811,500 | 71.8 | 9.6 |
| 2007 | 2,476,688,987 | 380,000 | 2,824,751 | Jason Giambi | $23,428,571 | New York Yankees | $189,259,045 | Tampa Bay Rays | $24,123,500 | 61.7 | 7.8 |
| 2006 | 2,326,706,685 | 327,000 | 2,699,292 | Alex Rodriguez | $21,680,727 | New York Yankees | $194,663,079 | Florida Marlins | $14,998,500 | 66.3 | 13.0 |
| 2005 | 2,191,886,898 | 316,000 | 2,476,589 | Alex Rodriguez | $26,000,000 | New York Yankees | $208,306,817 | Tampa Bay Rays | $29,679,067 | 82.3 | 7.0 |
| 2004 | 2,071,265,943 | 300,000 | 2,313,535 | Manny Ramirez | $22,500,000 | New York Yankees | $184,193,950 | Milwaukee Brewers | $27,528,500 | 75.0 | 6.7 |
| 2003 | 2,127,863,461 | 300,000 | 2,372,189 | Alex Rodriguez | $22,000,000 | New York Yankees | $152,749,814 | Tampa Bay Rays | $19,630,000 | 73.3 | 7.8 |
| 2002 | 2,024,680,522 | 200,000 | 2,295,649 | Alex Rodriguez | $22,000,000 | New York Yankees | $125,928,583 | Tampa Bay Rays | $34,380,000 | 110.0 | 3.7 |
| 2001 | 1,962,841,814 | 200,000 | 2,138,896 | Alex Rodriguez | $22,000,000 | New York Yankees | $112,287,143 | Minnesota Twins | $24,130,000 | 110.0 | 4.7 |
| 2000 | 1,686,271,795 | 200,000 | 1,895,630 | Kevin Brown | $15,714,286 | New York Yankees | $92,938,260 | Minnesota Twins | $15,654,500 | 78.6 | 5.9 |
| 1999 | 1,445,119,433 | 200,000 | 1,611,166 | Albert Belle | $11,949,794 | New York Yankees | $88,130,709 | Florida Marlins | $15,150,000 | 59.7 | 5.8 |
| 1998 | 1,210,532,333 | 170,000 | 1,398,831 | Gary Sheffield | $14,936,667 | Baltimore Orioles | $70,408,134 | Montreal Expos | $9,202,000 | 87.9 | 7.7 |
| 1997 | 1,061,631,360 | 150,000 | 1,336,609 | Albert Belle | $10,000,000 | New York Yankees | $59,148,877 | Pittsburgh Pirates | $9,071,666 | 66.7 | 6.5 |
| 1996 | 895,178,844 | 122,667 | 1,119,981 | Cecil Fielder | $9,237,500 | New York Yankees | $52,189,370 | Montreal Expos | $15,410,500 | 75.3 | 3.4 |
| 1995 | 882,082,040 | 109,000 | 1,110,766 | Cecil Fielder | $9,237,500 | Toronto Blue Jays | $49,791,500 | Montreal Expos | $12,031,000 | 84.7 | 4.1 |
| 1994 | 884,936,262 | 109,000 | 1,168,263 | Bobby Bonilla | $6,300,000 | New York Yankees | $44,785,334 | San Diego Padres | $13,529,333 | 57.8 | 3.3 |
| 1993 | 856,648,188 | 109,000 | 1,076,089 | Bobby Bonilla | $6,200,000 | Toronto Blue Jays | $45,747,666 | Colorado Rockies | $8,829,000 | 56.9 | 5.2 |
| 1992 | 783,893,948 | 109,000 | 1,028,667 | Bobby Bonilla | $6,100,000 | New York Mets | $44,352,002 | Cleveland Indians | $8,236,166 | 56.0 | 5.4 |
| 1991 | 630,008,474 | 100,000 | 851,492 | Darryl Strawberry | $3,800,000 | Oakland Athletics | $33,632,500 | Houston Astros | $11,546,000 | 38.0 | 2.9 |
| 1990 | 454,422,925 | 100,000 | 597,537 | Robin Yount | $3,200,000 | Kansas City Royals | $23,873,745 | Chicago White Sox | $9,496,238 | 32.0 | 2.5 |
| 1989 | 350,909,782 | 68,000 | 497,254 | Orel Hershiser | $2,766,667 | Los Angeles Dodgers | $21,584,161 | Chicago White Sox | $7,595,561 | 40.7 | 2.8 |
| 1988 | 294,880,320 | 62,500 | 438,729 | Ozzie Smith | $2,340,000 | New York Yankees | $18,909,152 | Chicago White Sox | $5,906,952 | 37.4 | 3.2 |
| 1987 | 268,095,100 | 62,500 | 412,454 | Mike Schmidt | $2,127,333 | Kansas City Royals | $12,498,500 | Pittsburgh Pirates | $4,024,500 | 34.0 | 3.1 |
| 1986 | 268,138,000 | 60,000 | 412,520 | George Foster | $2,800,000 | Atlanta Braves | $15,243,050 | Seattle Mariners | $5,768,100 | 46.7 | 2.6 |
| 1985 | 241,521,150 | 60,000 | 371,571 | Mike Schmidt | $2,130,300 | New York Yankees | $13,659,100 | Seattle Mariners | $4,242,350 | 35.5 | 3.2 |
| 1984 | 214,115,200 | 40,000 | 329,408 | Mike Schmidt | $1,989,875 | New York Yankees | $11,463,600 | Cleveland Indians | $3,994,350 | 49.7 | 2.9 |
| 1983 | 187,976,100 | 35,000 | 289,194 | Mike Schmidt | $1,652,333 | New York Mets | $11,599,675 | Minnesota Twins | $2,449,500 | 47.2 | 4.7 |
| 1982 | 156,973,050 | 33,500 | 241,497 | Mike Schmidt | $1,500,000 | California Angels | $10,585,075 | Minnesota Twins | $1,683,375 | 44.8 | 6.3 |
| 1981 | 120,673,150 | 32,500 | 185,651 | Dave Winfield | $1,400,000 | New York Yankees | $7,746,375 | Minnesota Twins | $2,143,400 | 43.1 | 3.6 |
| 1980 | 93,441,400 | 30,000 | 143,756 | Nolan Ryan | $1,000,000 | New York Yankees | $6,073,425 | Oakland Athletics | $1,374,850 | 33.3 | 4.4 |
| 1979 | 73,812,700 | 21,000 | 113,558 | Rod Carew | $800,000 | New York Yankees | $4,980,900 | Oakland Athletics | $1,030,500 | 38.1 | 4.8 |
| 1978 | 64,919,400 | 21,000 | 99,876 | Mike Schmidt | $560,000 | New York Yankees | $4,722,000 | Oakland Athletics | $1,231,450 | 26.7 | 3.8 |
| 1977 | 49,442,900 | 19,000 | 76,066 | Mike Schmidt | $560,000 | Philadelphia Phillies | $3,497,900 | Toronto Blue Jays | $858,000 | 29.5 | 4.1 |
Interesting to see the biggest payroll spread was just after the Yankees dominance in the World Series - 2006 when they were 3 years away from their final World Series win so far. The smallest was in 1990, during the Jays time as one of the best in the game (1989-1993 they won the division 4 out of 5 years with 2 World Series titles of course). That biggest spread was 13 times the minimum. The Dodgers would need to really up their game to get there - the lowest for 2026 is currently estimated to be $52.2 mil so 13 times that is $678.3 mil vs the just shy of $400 mil they are at - so to match the spread of the Yankees back in 2006 the Dodgers need to spend another $303 million (more than the Jays current payroll). Tells you how insane the Yankees were in the 00's with their spending vs everyone else - or how cheap the other owners were.
For the spread from richest to poorest player the smallest was 1978 when Mike Schmidt led with just $560k (well below the current minimum) and the minimum was just $21k. The biggest being in 2001 and 2002 when A-Rod was making $22 mil a year and the minimum was $200k. An insane 110x spread. A player would need to be making $85.8 million now to match that giant spread.
So in the 55 years the Jays have existed the top team for spending has been the Yankees. Here is a summary of how teams have ranked in payroll (#1 or dead last).
| Team | Top | Bottom |
| New York Yankees | 26 | 0 |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 9 | 0 |
| New York Mets | 4 | 0 |
| Boston Red Sox | 2 | 0 |
| Kansas City Royals | 2 | 1 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 2 | 1 |
| Atlanta Braves | 1 | 0 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 1 | 0 |
| California Angels | 1 | 0 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 1 | 0 |
| Oakland Athletics | 1 | 7 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 0 | 1 |
| Colorado Rockies | 0 | 1 |
| Cleveland Indians | 0 | 2 |
| Miami Marlins | 0 | 2 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 0 | 2 |
| Seattle Mariners | 0 | 2 |
| Chicago White Sox | 0 | 3 |
| Houston Astros | 0 | 3 |
| Montreal Expos | 0 | 3 |
| San Diego Padres | 0 | 3 |
| Florida Marlins | 0 | 4 |
| Minnesota Twins | 0 | 5 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 0 | 5 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | 0 | 5 |
Note: Washington hasn't been #1 or #30 since moving there from Montreal.
Interesting how a handful of teams have been high spenders and low at some point. The A's probably surprise younger readers - in the 80's and early 90's they were a high spending team and seen as the best in baseball. Willing to do what it took to win. Then they got cheap and lucky and did well in the early 00's - a 7 year stretch of contention (2000-2006) but never winning a game in the ALCS (made it there once, swept by the Tigers). Then a 5 year drought before 3 more playoffs (never past the ALDS), 3 more off years, 3 more playoffs (same result), now up to 5 years of ick.
Others who did both were KC with 2 leading, 1 trailing (yes, they also were a rich team in the 80's), and the Jays (1977 bottom, no shock as an expansion team, then #1 in 93 and 95 - showing that spending doesn't always work but sometimes it does).
For pure fan abuse hard to beat the Rays (5 dead lasts in 28 years), but the Pirates and Twins tried (also 5 dead lasts without ever leading). Expos used to be near the top but then were taken over by a scumbag who sucked everything they could out of the team then dumped the carcass onto MLB.
A bit surprising that the Red Sox only led twice in the Jays existence, which is tied with KC and the Jays. The Mets & Dodgers both trying to take over 'evil empire' status from the Yankees now but have a long way to go and you know MLB will try to set it up so it is near impossible to get a payroll spread like 2006. Checking average payroll per club vs #1 the biggest spread is 2005 at 2.9 times (NYY $208.3 vs Avg $73.1). Smallest was 1987 at 1.2 times (KC $12.5 vs Avg $10.3). This year is projected at 2.2 but is now less with a few recent signings not factored in (Suarez for example). 2023 was worse at 2.3, 2017 was down to 1.5. It'll be interesting to see how MLB and the players adjust things next winter. I'm seeing new tax levels on the way.
