USA Today compiled the payrolls for the opening-day rosters of the 30 major league teams before the 2009 season. The totals include salaries and pro-rated shares of signing bonuses.
The New York Yankees have the highest payroll for the ninth consecutive season, paying their players a total of $201.4 million. The highest-paid player is still the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez, making $33 million, a $5 million raise from 2008.
The average salary is $3.26 million, which is a 4 percent increase from $3.14 million in 2008. However, 14 of the 30 teams have a lower opening-day payroll than last season, and that even includes the Yankees, who paid their players more than $209 million in 2008. Ten of those 14 teams cut their roster budget by at least $10 million.
The San Diego Padres made the biggest cut, lowering their payroll by almost $20 million to $43.8 million, second-lowest in baseball.
Baseball total payroll, 2008 to 2009
| Team | 2008 payroll | 2009 payroll | |
| Yankees | $209,081,577 | $201,449,189 | |
| Mets | $137,793,376 | $149,373,987 | |
| Cubs | $118,345,833 | $134,809,000 | |
| Red Sox | $133,390,035 | $121,745,999 | |
| Tigers | $137,685,196 | $115,085,145 | |
| Angels | $119,216,333 | $113,709,000 | |
| Phillies | $98,269,880 | $113,004,046 | |
| Astros | $88,930,414 | $102,996,414 | |
| Dodgers | $118,588,536 | $100,414,592 | |
| Mariners | $117,666,482 | $98,904,166 | |
| Braves | $102,365,683 | $96,726,166 | |
| White Sox | $121,189,332 | $96,068,500 | |
| Giants | $76,594,500 | $82,616,450 | |
| Indians | $78,970,066 | $81,579,166 | |
| Blue Jays | $97,793,900 | $80,538,300 | |
| Brewers | $80,937,499 | $80,182,502 | |
| Cardinals | $99,624,449 | $77,605,109 | |
| Rockies | $68,655,500 | $75,201,000 | |
| Reds | $74,117,695 | $73,558,500 | |
| Diamondbacks | $66,202,712 | $73,516,666 | |
| Royals | $58,245,500 | $70,519,333 | |
| Rangers | $67,712,326 | $68,178,798 | |
| Orioles | $67,196,246 | $67,101,666 | |
| Twins | $56,932,766 | $65,299,266 | |
| Rays | $43,820,597 | $63,313,034 | |
| Athletics | $47,967,126 | $62,310,000 | |
| Nationals | $54,961,000 | $60,328,000 | |
| Pirates | $48,689,783 | $48,693,000 | |
| Padres | $73,677,616 | $43,734,200 | |
| Marlins | $21,811,500 | $36,834,000 | |
