And the team with the top payroll in baseball is...

[True Dough]

The Boston Red Sox at $223 million!

What surprised me most is that the Yankees, with all their stars, actually rank 7th this season, their lowest ranking since 1992.

The Giants, who will shell out $203 million, actually have the second highest payroll, but they won't play like it (sorry, Brother Buzz).

The Cubs are third at $183 million.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/22924074/new-york-yankees-7th-highest-payroll-boston-red-sox-top-major-leagues

[tonyt53]

1. It's because Judge is still at the base pay rate.

[VMA131Marine]

2. Pretty sure the reason is the luxury tax

If the Yankees exceed the luxury tax maximum this year they would have to pay 100% of any amount they go over in luxury tax. The threshold goes up next year so payroll can expand quite a bit. This has been discussed quite a bit on WFAN during Spring training.

[Ohiogal]

3. Would have been nice to see a complete list of teams

[GWC58]

4. Yankees did it smartly

Got rid of some high priced contracts &, above all, drafted well. Make no mistake! I do not like the Yankees, never have, never will. The Yankees and Red Sox have owners that want to win. The only hope the other three east teams have is, somehow, clinch the third wildcard. Then pray for a miracle.

[ProfessorGAC]

5. Cubs Are Going To See A Big Uptick

Bryant and Rizzo are going to command BIG dollars in a couple years. (Rizzo, next year i think.)

That $183M is going to jump quite a bit, i would think, absent letting them walk, and the fanbase will be most displeased.

[Brother Buzz]

6. Pablo Sandoval is basically playing for the SF Giants on the Red Sox nickel

If the Giants were paying full freight, the Sox and the Giants payroll would be almost equal.

And it looks like Pablo Sandoval is now worth a lot more than the $545,000 the Giants obligated to are pay him.

Sandoval hasn't lost the weight (5'11", 268 pounds) but he's fielding surprisingly well and his stick is hot (.306), and it looks like he got promoted from bullpen catcher to a versatile experienced infield utility player.

Pablo Sandoval impressing with glove, new attitude

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. >> Best shape of his life? That spring training cliche will never apply to Pablo Sandoval, listed at 5-foot-11, 268 pounds.

Best mental outlook of his life? On that front, Sandoval, 31, might be in tip-top condition.

<snip>

Sandoval has embraced his potential role as a utility infielder, splitting innings this spring almost equally between third base and first base. He made a terrific diving stop at first base Sunday in a 13-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies. He also went 2 for 4 with a homer and 4 RBIs.

The switch-hitter would give the Giants another right-handed option at first base on days they don’t want Brandon Belt facing a left-hander.

<more - a good fluff piece read>

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/article/NE/20180319/SPORTS/180319704