bigger every year. In 1988 the New York Yankees had the highest team payroll at $21.5 million dollars and the Seattle Mariners payroll was the lowest at $6.5 million. The difference between the highest and the lowest was just $15 million dollars, but by the 2000 season the difference had increased to $97.6 million dollars. The Yankees again had the highest payroll at $113.4 million, and the Minnesota Twins payroll was the lowest at $15.8 million. Seventeen other teams had payrolls that were at least 50% less than the Yankees. This disparity has created a situation that has made it very hard for the poorer, small, market teams to compete for players and championships. In 1999 the eight teams that made the playoffs, the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Houston Astros, all ranked in the top ten in total payroll. Since the strike, in 1994, every playoff team except for the Houston Astros, in 1997, has been in the top half of the league in total payroll. The year 2000 was an exception to that rule. In 2000 the Chicago White Sox were able to win the American League Central Division with a payroll of just $36.98 million, and the Oakland Athletics won the A.L. West with a payroll of $32.17 million.The Highest and Lowest Payrolls 1988-2000YearHighLow1988N.Y. Yankees $21.5Seattle Mariners $6.51989N.Y. Mets $20.2Philadelphia Phillies $7.81990K.C. Royals $23.8Baltimore Orioles$6.91991Oakland Athletics $40.1Houston Astros$10.11992Toronto Blue Jays $49.8Cleveland Indians$8.21993Toronto Blue Jays $52.2San Diego Padres$11.21994N.Y. Yankees$48.3San Diego Padres$12.11995N.Y. Yankees$57.6N.Y. Mets$11.41996N.Y. Yankees$60.3Milwaukee Brewers$9.81997N.Y. Yankees$69.4Oakland Athletics$7.11998Baltimore Orioles $73.8Montreal Expos$8.31999N.Y. Yankees$91.9Florida Marlins$13.62000N.Y. Yankees$113.4Minnesota Twins$15.8Dollars in millionsThe above chart shows the Highest and...
