Page 14 - aruba-today-20230406

A14 SPORTS
Thursday 6 april 2023

AP exclusive: MLB average salary up 11% year after lockout

By RONALD BLUM fell as low at $4.2 million in
AP Baseball Writer 2021 after the pandemic-
NEW YORK (AP) — A year shortened season.
removed from a labor lock- Unhappy with their share of
out that postponed open- spending, players endured
ing day, major league a 99-day lockout before
players are enjoying their agreeing to a labor con-
biggest salary spike in more tract last March. Spend-
than two decades. ing resumed at a frenetic
The average Major League pace, and the average
Baseball salary was up rose 6% to $4.4 million in
11.1% to a record $4.9 mil- 2022.
lion to start this season, the This winter, spending was
largest jump for the sport spurred by paydays for
since 2001, according to streaming and broadcast
a study by The Associated rights, an expanded post-
Press. season format and rising
The surge follows a spend- ticket prices.
ing spree in the first off- “It’s a barometer of the
season since players and wealth of the game” agent
owners agreed to a five- Scott Boras said. “It’s al-
year collective bargaining ways great business to in-
agreement last March. vest in players, and this in-
“It’s a step in the right direc- crease reflects investment
tion,” said Texas Rangers New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer throws to Miami Marlins’ Jorge Soler during the in the great players of the
second baseman Marcus second inning of an opening day baseball game, Thursday, March 30, 2023, in Miami. game.”
Associated Press
Semien, part of the union’s Steve Cohen has boosted
eight-member executive Rays pitcher Zach Eflin, who Of 943 players in the major homers. Seven of 11 high- payroll steadily since buy-
subcommittee who helped signed a $40 million, three- leagues on opening day, est-paid players are with ing the Mets, who were at
negotiate the CBA. year deal in December. 546 had salaries of $1 mil- teams in New York or Los $154 million in 2019, the last
The New York Mets led the “It’s been pretty much a lion or more, 58%, and up Angeles, a sign of the eco- full season under the Wil-
way with a $355 million joke the past five, 10 years from 514 last year. nomic power of the large pon and Katz families. Their
payroll, $70 million more about the way the players “The stance that we took markets. spending rose to $186 mil-
than the previous high for a have been paid the mini- was great, getting players “I saw the revenue num- lion in 2021 and $266 million
season’s start. Seven teams mum salaries.” to be paid more is what we bers for the game last last year, when they started
topped $200 million. Aaron Judge, Manny want,” Correa said. “Obvi- year,” said Yankees pitcher second to the Dodgers but
Oakland was last at $58 Machado, Trea Turner, Xan- ously, we bring a lot to this Gerrit Cole, also a member wound up first after Los An-
million less than the com- der Bogaerts, Carlos Cor- game. But at the same time of the players’ association’s geles pitcher Trevor Bauer
bined salaries of Mets pitch- rea and Jacob deGrom us as players have to keep executive subcommittee was suspended for most of
ers Max Scherzer and Justin all got big deals during an putting up the work, mak- during negotiations. the season without pay.
Verlander, who tied for the offseason that saw the av- ing sure that after we get “So when those continue to The Yankees are second
major league high of $43.3 erage shatter the previous contracts, we keep per- go up, then players salaries at $275 million followed by
million. high of $4.45 million in 2017. forming to the highest level should go up with that, as San Diego ($258 million),
This year’s percentage rise “Teams are making money, for teams to keep spending well.” NL champion Philadelphia
was the largest since a players are making it. So it’s and keep going big.” After setting a record in ($236 million), the Dodgers
13.9% jump in 2001. good all around,” said de- Judge was third at $40 mil- 2017, the average dropped ($222 million), the Angels
“It’s about damn time, Grom, who left the Mets for lion after hitting an Ameri- by just under 1% in each of ($212 million) and Toronto
honestly,” said Tampa Bay Texas. can League-record 62 the following two years and ($210 million).q

Franco and Ramirez homer in Rays 7-2

win over Nationals

By HARVEY VALENTINE Taylor Walls and Randy games.
Associated Press Arozarena had two hits Washington starter Patrick
WASHINGTON (AP) — Wan- each for Tampa Bay, which Corbin (0-2) gave up six
der Franco and Harold has outscored opponents runs on 10 hits over six in-
Ramirez each had two hits 44-13. nings.
including a home run, and Shane McClanahan (2-0) The Rays broke open a
the Tampa Bay Rays de- allowed two runs on five close game in the sixth.
feated the Washington Na- hits and four walks over six Corbin had retired 11 in a
tionals 7-2 on Wednesday. innings, allowing at least row before Ramirez lined a
The Rays improved to 6-0 one baserunner in every in- homer to center with two
and extended the best ning but the sixth. He struck outs. Manuel Margot then
Tampa Bay Rays catcher Francisco Mejia, right, can’t tag start in franchise history. out six. singled, stole second and
Washington Nationals’ Stone Garrett, as he scores on a hit by
Victor Robles during the second inning of a baseball game at They are off to the best Victor Robles had two scored when centerfielder
Nationals Park, Wednesday, April 5, 2023, in Washington. start of any team since Bal- hits for the Nationals, who Robles lost Walls fly ball in
Associated Press timore opened 7-0 in 2016. have lost five of their first six the sun for a double. q