MLB teams in 2021 spent the least in combined player salary in more than five years, the league's data reportedly shows.
According to "information sent to clubs by the commissioner's office," combined payrolls for MLB's 30 clubs fell to $4.05 billion last season, the Associated Press reported.
The figure marked a 4% drop compared to the last full season, in 2019, and was the lowest overall since 2015, when teams laid out $3.95 billion in player salary.
The record high came in 2017, when teams shelled out $4.25, the report said.
The falling payrolls have been one of the many issues at stake in the current labor negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement. The owners implemented a league lockout when the old CBA expired in early December, the culmination of years of mounting tensions. The lockout brought an end to 26 years of labor peace since the player strike of 1994-95.
The Dodgers had the sport's highest payroll in 2021 at $262 million, the report said, and were assessed a luxury tax fine of $32.65 million on Monday. The Dodgers have now paid the second most in luxury tax fines since the penalty's introduction in 2003, with the Yankees leading the way at $348 million.
The St. Louis Cardinals were ninth on the list, with a $168.9 million payroll – between the Los Angeles Angles ($182.9M) and Washington Nationals ($168.3M).
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The Yankees were second in payroll to the Dodgers in 2021, with the Mets coming in third in their first year under new owner Steve Cohen, who increased the outlay on players by $53 million after taking over. That number projects to be higher in 2022 after an offseason spending spree.
The Phillies were fourth in payroll, followed by the AL champion Astros and then the Red Sox, who at $187 million also saw their lowest full-year payroll since 2015. The World Series-winning Braves were 14th at $148 million.
The Pirates had the lowest payroll at $50 million, the lowest full-season total since the Astros paid their players a mere $29 million in 2013. Cleveland, the Orioles and Marlins all were within $10 million of the Pirates' mark.
Ten teams had payrolls under $100 million, the most in a full season since there were 13 in 2014.
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