MLB salary hits $5.34M record, Mets lead payroll
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- MLB reported a record average salary of $5.34 million on Opening Day, a 3.4% increase from the previous season’s $5.16 million.
- Mets led league spending with a $352.2 million payroll, the fourth consecutive year they topped Opening‑Day payrolls, just shy of their 2023 record of $355.4 million.
- Juan Soto remained the highest‑paid player for a second year at $61.9 million, followed by Cody Bellinger at $42.5 million and Zack Wheeler and Bo Bichette each at $42 million.
- CBA‑driven salary growth has lifted average pay 28% over the past five years, averaging a 5.6% annual rise under the agreement that expires in December.
- Detroit posted the largest payroll jump, adding $64.2 million to reach $206.7 million after signing Framber Valdez and raising Tarik Skubal and Gleyber Torres.
- Minnesota cut its payroll by $46.3 million to $96.5 million, the steepest reduction among clubs, while St. Louis trimmed its payroll to $100.4 million amid trade‑related payments.
Why it matters: The record average salary benefits top‑earners and teams with deep pockets, especially the Mets who maintain the highest payroll, while small‑market clubs such as Minnesota and St. Louis see steep cuts, widening the financial gap and intensifying competition for talent under the expiring CBA.
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