02/02/26 02:32:00
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02/02 14:31 CST Major League Baseball salary increase slowed to 1.4% in 2024
while setting record at $4.7 million
Major League Baseball salary increase slowed to 1.4% in 2024 while setting
record at $4.7 million
By RONALD BLUM
AP Baseball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --- The rate of increase for Major League Baseball's average
salary slowed to 1.4% last year while setting a record average at $4,721,393,
according to final figures from the players' association.
The increase was the smallest since the average dropped in four straight
seasons before 2022. The average rose 2.9% in 2024 to $4,655,366 after
increases of 7.2% in 2023 and 14.8% in 2022, following a 99-day lockout that
led to a five-year collective bargaining agreement.
After declining to $3.68 million in 2021, a year following the coronavirus
pandemic-shortened season, MLB's average has risen 28.3% in the first four
seasons of the current labor deal, an annual average of 7.1%. The current
agreement expires Dec. 1 and another lockout appears likely.
Union figures are based on the 2025 salaries, earned bonuses and prorated
shares of signing bonuses for 1,046 players on Aug. 31 active rosters and
injured lists, before active rosters expanded for the remainder of the season.
MLB has not yet finalized its 2025 average. Its figures differ slightly because
of methodology.
The average each year is higher on opening day but declines during the season
as higher-paid veterans are released and replaced by those with less service
time.
Players with less than one year of major league service averaged $822,589,
according to the union, and those with one to two years averaged $1,179,192.
Among players with two to three years who were eligible for salary arbitration,
the average was $1,833,386 while those in that service class not eligible
averaged $1,374,760. The top 22% of the class by service time is arbitration
eligible.
Averages among others in the arbitration-eligible years were $3,273,039 for the
three-years-plus group, $3,932,847 in the four-plus group and $8,019,748 in the
five-plus group, a year of service time shy of free-agent eligibility.
The average rose to $9,649,380 for six-to-seven-year players and peaked at
$22,034,231 for 11-to-12-year players before declining to $13,703,052 for the
six players with 15 or more years of major league service.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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