Baseball Salaries Rise 18 Percent

NEW YORK (AP) â€” Y2K just missed being baseball's Y2MIL. <br><br>The sport's average salary soared 17 1/2 percent to $1,895,630 in 2000, according to the annual survey released Wednesday by the

Thursday, December 21st 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) â€” Y2K just missed being baseball's Y2MIL.

The sport's average salary soared 17 1/2 percent to $1,895,630 in 2000, according to the annual survey released Wednesday by the Major League Baseball Players Association.

The New York Yankees had the highest average salary for the second straight year and the sixth time in seven seasons. A year after becoming the first team to break the $3 million barrier, the Yankees averaged $3,656,542 as they won their third straight World Series, up from $3,215,660 in 1999.

Three other teams topped $3 million: Los Angeles ($3,141,883), Atlanta ($3,127,992) and the NL champion New York Mets ($3,115,549).

Minnesota had the lowest average at $601,680, with Montreal 29th at $767,420 and Kansas City 28th at $798,242. The Royals had the lowest average in 1999, $534,460.

Texas, which last week agreed to a record $252 million, 10-year contract with Alex Rodriguez, had the biggest payroll drop this year, falling from second at $2,825,735 to 15th at $1,870,723.

St. Louis, which won the NL Central, rose from 17th at $1,515,094 to seventh at $2,390,042.

The average salary increased 17.7 percent from 1999's revised average of $1,611,166, the second-biggest rise since 1992, trailing only a 19.3 percent hike in 1997.

This offseason's signings, led by Rodriguez's deal, Manny Ramirez's $160 million, eight-year contract with Boston and Mike Hampton's $121 million, eight-year agreement with Colorado, should push the average over $2 million next season, just nine years after it topped $1 million for the first time.

First basemen were the highest-paid players, averaging $4,996,933. They were followed by outfielders ($3,480,792), designated hitters ($3,366,872), second basemen ($3,158,209), starting pitchers ($3,064,021), catchers ($2,767,726), shortstops ($2,504,993), third basemen ($2,484,428) and relief pitchers ($1,220,412).

Just four teams among the top 15 payrolls had losing records â€” Detroit (79-83), Baltimore (74-88), Tampa Bay (69-92) and the Chicago Cubs (65-97) â€” and the teams with the eight highest payrolls all had winning records.

Only five clubs among the bottom 15 payrolls had winning records: the Chicago White Sox (95-67), Oakland (91-70), Cincinnati (85-77), Anaheim (82-80) and Colorado (82-80).

Players with 2-to-3 years of major league service who were not eligible for arbitration averaged $474,617, while those with 2-to-3 years of major league service who were eligible averaged $1,337,145.