New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is the highest paid player in the majors for the 13th straight season and this year he has another accomplishment to add to his resume, as he is being paid more than the entire Houston Astros roster.
According to the Associated Press, Rodriguez will make $29 million this season despite being injured and his salary is higher than entire payroll of the Astros, which is at $25 million. The Yankees made a trade for Vernon Wells and now will also have the highest payroll in baseball for the 15th straight season, going ahead of the LA Dodgers with about $230 million.
"When we get on the baseball field with whomever the opponent is, they are not sitting there saying: 'Well, their players make more money than us, so therefore you're deemed a winner and we're deemed a loser,'" Astros manager Bo Porter said Thursday. "Games are won and lost on the baseball field, and it doesn't matter what somebody is paid every two weeks. At the end of the day, that person has to be better than you today."
Rodriguez is out while coming back from hip surgery, while Cliff Lee of the Phillies is second with a $25 million salary. Rounding out the top six includes New York Mets pitcher Johan Santana, Wells at fourth, CC Sabathia fifth at $24.3 million and Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira sixth with over $23 million.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Astros and the Marlins have lowered their payrolls to some of the lowest in the league, including Miami's $40 million payroll after spending on Jose Reyes and other players last season.
The Yankees have tried to lower their payroll over the past few years, but injuries forced them to trade for Wells, giving them the highest one once again.