CLEARWATER, Fla. ? Major League Baseball can only hope the dollars keep flowing because, led by the New York Yankees, the 30 teams have mortgaged their future with $2.97 billion in player contracts through this decade.

 

USA TODAY's survey of all guaranteed contracts for the five-year period beginning in 2006 shows that the $2.97 billion for 190 players tops the $2.77 billion on the books this time last year ? and that was for a six-year period. (Related items: Team-by-team breakdown | Who's owed the most)

 

The Yankees, whose 25-player payroll for this season is calculated by USA TODAY at $201.2 million, have guaranteed 11 players $425.6 million through 2010.

 

Third baseman Alex Rodriguez leads that money parade, owed $115.6 million during the period. He's followed by shortstop Derek Jeter, at $108 million.

 

The Yankees, by far, top the list, outspending the Boston Red Sox, who are obligated to pay $177 million to 10 players. The St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to pay six players $171.2 million and the New York Mets owe eight players $171 million.

 

"Debt of this magnitude is a matter of serious concern," Commissioner Bud Selig said of the survey. "We do have rules in our labor agreement that deal with that, but it's something that I monitor very closely because certainly it can affect the way we operate in the future."

 

Since 2002 Selig has enforced baseball's 60/40 rule, which prohibits debt higher than 40% of the franchise's asset value. Selig said the 60/40 rule counts long-term player contracts as debt.

 

Baseball's total payroll for this season is projected by MLB to be $2.3 billion compared with $2.197 billion in 2004.

 

Industry-wide revenues in baseball for 2004 were $4.1 billion and are projected to be $4.5 billion this season.

 

The Yankees' luxury tax bill last season was $25.02 million, but that's based on 40-man rosters, the average annual values of contracts and includes benefits. The luxury tax for the 2005 season is based on a payroll threshold of $128 million with amounts above that taxed at a 40% rate.

 

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Pittsburgh Pirates have guaranteed the smallest amounts of all teams, $13 million and $6.3 million, respectively.

 

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/20...e-of-debt_x.htm

There are too many players making way too much money out there, which makes it hard for small market teams to be competitive. From 1998-2002 it seemed the Marlins were the farm system for large markets, which was extremely frustrating. Hopefully the Devil Rays can find a way to keep their talent.

Why dont the owners stop stealing from their fans and actually spend some money?

Some teams are actually in debt and the owners don't just keep the money. But some teams like the Athletics and Twins don't need to be small market.

Teams like the Devil Rays and Twins that purposely don't spend are just as bad for baseball as ridiculous spenders like the Yankees are.

Teams like the Devil Rays and Twins that purposely don't spend are just as bad for baseball as ridiculous spenders like the Yankees are.

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