USA – Although a big budget does not guarantee success in Major League Baseball – only five of the 10 clubs with the largest payrolls on Opening Day this season advanced to the playoffs a year ago – the have and have not’s in MLB remain light years apart. This fact could become painfully evident if both New York franchises enjoy success in their new stadiums this year, and as many as eight of the 10 teams with the fattest payrolls qualify for post-season action.

According to Sports Weekly, the New York Yankees continue to make a mockery out of the league’s revenue-sharing plan with a 2009 payroll of $201,449,189 – $52,075,202 more than the New York Mets which has the second highest payroll at $149,373,987. The salaries includes players who are on the opening day roster and the disabled list.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Florida Marlins have the smallest payroll ($36,834,000) which is a shameful $164,615,189 lower than the mammoth payroll of the so-called “evil empire.”

Below are the 2009 MLB Opening Day Player Salaries:

200 MILLION CLUB
New York Yankees $201,449,189

100 MILLION CLUB
New York Mets $149,373,987
Chicago Cubs $134,809,000
Boston Red Sox $121,745,999
Detroit Tigers $115,085,145
Los Angeles Angels $113,709,000
Philadelphia Pillies $113,004,046
Houston Astros $102,996,414
Los Angeles Dodgers $100,414,592

90 MILLION CLUB
Seattle Mariners $98,904,166
Atlanta Braves $96,726,166
Chicago White Sox $96,068,500

80 MILLION CLUB
San Francisco Giants $82,616,450
Cleveland Indians $81,579,166
Toronto Blue Jays $80,538,300
Milwaukee Brewers $80,182,502

70 MILLION CLUB
St. Louis Cardinals $77,605,109
Colorado Rockies $75,201,000
Cincinnati Reds $73,558,500
Arizona Diamondbacks $73,516,666
Kansas City Royals $70,519,333

60 MILLION CLUB
Texas Rangers $68,178,798
Baltimore Orioles $67,101,666
Minnesota Twins $65,299,266
Tampa Bay Rays $63,313,034
Oakland Athletics $62,310,000
Washington Nationals $60,328,000

40 MILLION CLUB
Pittsburgh Pirates $48,693,000
San Diego Padres $43,734,200

30 MILLION CLUB
Florida Marlins $36,834,000

Photo courtesy of jimmyscottshighandtight.com

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