The Associated Press compiled the payrolls and average salaries for the opening-day rosters of the 30 major league teams before the 2008 season. The totals include salaries and pro-rated shares of signing bonuses.
The New York Yankees have the highest payroll for the eighth consecutive season, paying their 31 players a total of $209,081,579. Their highest-paid player is Alex Rodriguez, making $28 million.
Rodriguez's salary alone is more than the cheapest team, the Florida Marlins, which ironically play in Rodriguez's hometown, Miami. The 33 players on the Marlins' opening-day roster and disabled list make a total of $21.8 million.
The average salary topped the $3 million mark for the first time. The average salary is $3.15 million for the 855 players on major-league rosters and the disabled list, an increase of 7.1 percent from 2007.
Baseball Total and Average Payrolls, 2008
| Team | Total payroll | Average salary | |
| Yankees | $209,081,579 | $6,744,567 | |
| Tigers | $138,685,197 | $4,622,840 | |
| Mets | $138,293,378 | $4,609,779 | |
| Red Sox | $133,440,037 | $4,765,716 | |
| White Sox | $121,152,667 | $4,487,136 | |
| Angels | $119,216,333 | $4,110,908 | |
| Cubs | $118,595,833 | $4,392,438 | |
| Dodgers | $118,536,038 | $4,233,430 | |
| Mariners | $117,993,982 | $4,538,230 | |
| Braves | $102,424,018 | $3,414,134 | |
| Cardinals | $100,624,450 | $3,049,226 | |
| Blue Jays | $98,641,957 | $3,522,927 | |
| Phillies | $98,269,881 | $3,388,617 | |
| Astros | $88,930,415 | $3,293,719 | |
| Brewers | $81,004,167 | $2,793,247 | |
| Indians | $78,970,067 | $3,037,310 | |
| Giants | $76,904,500 | $2,651,879 | |
| Reds | $74,277,695 | $2,971,108 | |
| Padres | $73,677,617 | $2,376,697 | |
| Rockies | $68,655,500 | $2,640,596 | |
| Rangers | $68,239,551 | $2,353,088 | |
| Orioles | $67,196,248 | $2,099,883 | |
| Diamondbacks | $66,202,713 | $2,364,383 | |
| Twins | $62,182,767 | $2,487,311 | |
| Royals | $58,245,500 | $2,240,212 | |
| Nationals | $54,961,000 | $1,895,207 | |
| Pirates | $49,365,283 | $1,898,665 | |
| Athletics | $47,967,126 | $1,713,112 | |
| Rays | $43,820,598 | $1,460,687 | |
| Marlins | $21,836,500 | $661,712 | |
