To all, Let's see. The Cubs are in the 3rd largest market in the United States and our payroll isn't even in the top 10? With all of the increased revenue from scapling tickets, ticket price increases, the rooftop owners, additional night games, dugout seats, etc., etc., etc., we as Cub fans are obviously not getting OUR money's worth.

However, as the White Sox and Marlins have shown, you need not break the bank to be a winner. The simoleans simply must be spent most wisely. Best regards, Cle

The Associated Press
By RONALD BLUM


NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Yankees finished last year with a record $207.2 million payroll, more than $90 million ahead of any other team, according to final figures compiled Friday by the commissioner's office.

Boston was second at $116.7 million, with the New York Mets third at $104 million, followed by the Los Angeles Angels ($97 million), Philadelphia ($94.8 million), the Los Angeles Dodgers ($87.8 million), St. Louis ($87.4 million) and Atlanta ($85.9 million).

The Chicago White Sox, who won the World Series for the first time since 1917, were 13th at $73.2 million. Houston, swept by the White Sox in the Astros' first Series appearance, was 12th at $76.2 million.

San Diego had the lowest payroll among the eight teams that made the postseason, 16th at $66.3 million. The Padres were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Cardinals.

At the other end, Tampa Bay had the lowest payroll at $26.6 million, with Pittsburgh at $30.1 million, Colorado at $32.5 million and Kansas City at $34.9 million.

Payrolls were based on Aug. 31 active rosters and disabled lists and included prorated shares of signing bonuses. In 2004, the Yankees led the majors with a then-record high of $187.9 million.

The average salary was $2,349,394, a 5.5 percent increase from the 2004 average of $2,227,347. The players' association, in figures released last month, calculated the average at $2,479,125, a rise of 7.2 percent. The union and management differ in their treatment of signing bonuses and option buyouts.

AL MVP Alex Rodriguez was the highest-paid player at $21.8 million, which doesn't include $4 million in money paid by Texas, which was converted to an "assignment bonus" under the 2004 restructuring of his $252 million, 10-year contract. The changes were made as part of his trade from the Rangers to the Yankees.

San Francisco's Barry Bonds, on the disabled list from the start of the season until Sept. 12 following knee surgery, was second at $21.3 million, followed by Boston's Manny Ramirez ($19.9 million), the Yankees' Derek Jeter ($19.6 million) and Mike Mussina ($19 million), Baltimore's Sammy Sosa ($18.9 million) and Houston's Roger Clemens ($18 million), who at 43 led the major leagues with a career-best 1.87 ERA.

N.Y. Yankees - $207,152,931

Boston - $116,640,070

New York Mets - $103,985,823

Los Angeles Angels - $96,951,322

Philadelphia - $94,848,907

Los Angeles Dodgers - $87,753,000

St. Louis - $87,368,220

Atlanta - $85,873,582

San Francisco - $83,316,989

Baltimore - $81,041,711

Chicago Cubs - $76,598,500

Houston - $76,186,763

Chicago White Sox - $73,162,000

Seattle - $70,513,167

Detroit - $68,751,682

San Diego - $66,333,633

Washington - $62,866,000

Arizona - $60,803,968

Oakland - $58,425,354

Minnesota - $56,338,000

Florida - $56,273,212

Texas - $49,870,201

Cincinnati - $49,501,275

Toronto - $45,698,000

Milwaukee - $42,752,833

Cleveland - $40,684,100

Kansas City - $34,903,000

Colorado - $32,504,000

Pittsburgh - $30,139,200

Tampa Bay - $26,615,413

So were they not counting the money we were paying Baltimore to pay Sosa? And I distinctly remember hearing last year at the beginning of the year that the Cubs payroll was $106 million counting what they were paying Sosa and that they had the highest payroll in the NL. What gives? Now I REALLY feel royally ripped off. :angry: (Okay, I felt they way already, but still...)