The 7 Highest Team Payrolls in MLB History

After two offseasons of massive spending, the New York Mets are expected to set the MLB record for highest payroll in 2023.

But which organization will the Mets pass up? And who else adorns the list of largest-spending teams in a single year?

If you've watched the majors for a decade-plus, the answers certainly won't be a surprise. Yes, the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees also make the cut. Before the Mets reset the standard with a projected $330 million, however, four of the seven highest-paying spots belong to one franchise.

One valuable note: Numbers, which reflect data on The Baseball Cube, are not adjusted for inflation.

Payroll: $235,295,219

During the 2013 season, the Dodgers kicked off what has become a decadelong streak of making the playoffs. And that return to the postseason pushed Los Angeles into its own spending tier.

In the moment, the $235 million spent in 2014 set a record.

Zack Greinke headlined the roster at $28 million, while Adrián González, Matt Kemp, Carl Crawford, Clayton Kershaw, Josh Beckett, Hanley Ramirez and Andre Ethier all earned at least $15 million. For good measure, both Dan Haren and Brian Wilson hit $10 million.

Although the Dodgers won 96 games and the NL West, they exited the playoffs with a four-game Division Series loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Payroll: $235,649,368

When spending nearly a quarter-million dollars, the objective is to mimic the 2018 Red Sox.

Star outfielder Mookie Betts brought home the AL MVP before leading Boston to a World Series triumph. However, his $10.5 million salary was comparably modest to many others on the roster.

David Price collected $30 million ahead of $20-plus million men JD Martinez, Hanley Ramirez—who the 108-win Red Sox actually released in May—and Rick Porcello. Along with Betts in the $10-13 million range sat Craig Kimbrel, Chris Sale and Ian Kinsler.

One enjoyable piece of irony is that Jackie Bradley Jr. and Steve Pierce ended up winning the ALCS and World Series MVPs. They were paid $6.1 and $6.5 million, respectively.

Payroll: $240,290,714

Aaron Judge secured the AL MVP after setting an American League record with 62 homers. The problem, though, is the Yankees collapsed.

Following a sizzling 61-23 start, New York closed the regular season on a 38-40 skid. Overall, the Yankees endured frustrating years from Giancarlo Stanton, Josh Donaldson, Aroldis Chapman, Aaron Hicks and Joey Gallo.

Round up slightly, and the five struggling players accounted for about $90 million of the pricey payroll. Given the investment in them, it's understandable why the Pinstripes faltered until reinforcements arrived (and Gallo departed).

New York defeated the Cleveland Guardians in the ALDS, but the Houston Astros swept the Yankees in the ALCS.

Payroll: $241,372,403

Despite matching a franchise record with 106 wins, the Dodgers finished behind the rival San Francisco Giants in the NL West. Los Angeles toppled the Cardinals and Giants to reach the NLCS, but the Atlanta Braves shattered their dreams of back-to-back World Series wins.

It was an awfully expensive letdown.

Four players—David Price, Trevor Bauer, Clayton Kershaw and Albert Pujols—commanded $30-plus million, but only Kershaw truly provided a positive impact. Max Scherzer also landed above $30 million, though the Dodgers acquired him in a midseason trade.

Otherwise, the Dodgers had a legion of eight-figure payments to Kenley Jansen, Betts, AJ Pollock, Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager and Justin Turner. Trea Turner joined L.A. in the blockbuster with Scherzer, too.

Comparing how much Los Angeles invested in this roster to how Atlanta revamped its outfield in the middle of the season, the playoff exit stung even worse.

Payroll: $253,639,162

Five years earlier, the Dodgers found themselves on the wrong side of an iconic championship story.

Not since 1908 had the Chicago Cubs won a World Series. But in 2016, they toppled the Dodgers in the NLCS before bringing home the trophy that had constantly eluded them.

As has become all-too-familiar, Los Angeles broke out the checkbook for that frustrating result. The organization set a payroll record that stood for six years, led by $30 million ace Clayton Kershaw. Adrián González and Carl Crawford also earned $20-plus million, although the Dodgers released the latter in June of that season.

Ethier, Brett Anderson, Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy, Jansen and Howie Kendrick each earned $10-plus million.

Payroll: $255,919,999

Like the 2021 Dodgers, the 2022 Mets own the inglorious honor of finishing as a division runner-up with 100-plus victories.

Atlanta, which once trailed New York by 10.5 games, stormed past the Mets thanks to a late-season sweep. The misfortune continued with an NL Wild Card Series exit at the hands of the San Diego Padres—more on them shortly.

Max Scherzer stood atop the payroll with his record $43.3 million salary, while superstars Jacob deGrom and Francisco Lindor both received at least $32 million. But as Lindor enjoyed a resurgent year, injuries held deGrom out of the rotation for much of the season.

New York's horde of $7 million-plus pitchers—a group including Edwin Diaz, Chris Bassitt and Taijaun Walker—did an admirable job but couldn't quite carry the Mets down the stretch.

Payroll: $285,508,333

During the 2021 season, the Dodgers assembled the second-most expensive team ever. So, naturally, they added Atlanta Braves star Freddie Freeman in free agency to become No. 1.

Another year, another disappointment.

If judged solely on the postseason, 2022 was a failure. Still, the Dodgers posted a franchise-best 111 victories and won the NL West by an absurd 22 games. On the other hand, it's tough to argue that falling in the playoffs to division runner-up San Diego doesn't sour the accomplishment.

Along with Price's remaining $32 million salary, Los Angeles stacked the roster with Freeman, Betts, Kershaw, Trea and Justin Turner, Chris Taylor and on and on.

There is no question the Dodgers built a championship-caliber group. Yet, they finished well short of the ultimate goal.