What's the lowest payroll you've seen in a modern MLB setting?

victims_sanction · 07-23-2015, 01:51 AM

In my game the year is 2019 and the Royals have a payroll of 46 million, which is just 20% of the #1 team (Dodgers ofc).

Here is a quick look at their salary page; only 4 players make more than 1 million dollars.

Despite this ridiculously low payroll the team is 37-36 and 1/2 game out of the AL Wild Card spot at the end of June. Maybe they got some new fancy stats out there in KC.

Also, their budget is set for 124 million and they have 67 million to spend on FA - so budget doesn't seem to be the problem.

Any way I thought this was cool when I discovered it and wanted to share and find out if anyone else has seen a payroll crazy low like this.

If anyone wants more info / screenshots let me know.

Assos · 07-23-2015, 12:56 PM

I can not say in modern terms since I start my league in the late 1940s or 1950 at the latest. I do have to say I like the controlling personalities of the owners. I am in a fictional league right now and I have an owner who is CHEAP. I drafted a strong pitching team and I have very little payroll flexibility. I have the lowest payroll in the league and the lowest budget. I am in the first place, only a month and a half in and I know I need a bat. My budget is 15% lower then the second to lowest budget. I like to play tight, but this is real tight. I can not wait until the off season.

progen · 07-23-2015, 01:31 PM

Using real rosters, and because I like a real challenge, I'm in the year 2018, and I "manually" moved the Lancaster Barnstormers and the York Revolution from the Atlantic Independent League, to MLB. I didn't have an expansion draft, so with both teams on a 40m budget, I grabbed some cheap free agents, waiver wire picks, etc. And I am controlling both teams, one in the AL, one in the NL, with a long term goal of getting them both to the World Series at the same time.

I like playing the game different ways, and with the hardest challenge I can come up with, realistic or not!

Lancaster Payroll - 22.5m Last place NL east - 21-39
York Payroll - 23.75 - 4th in AL east - 28-33

MogulFiend13 · 07-24-2015, 12:18 AM

When I stripped down the Phillies and was trying to do a complete burn down rebuild I had a payroll of $38 million starting the season before I started trading for big contracts to get some prospects.

tejdog1 · 07-26-2015, 05:13 AM

When I strip it down, I strip it DOWN.

I've routinely entered seasons with 14-17m payrolls.

tcoots423 · 07-26-2015, 05:33 AM

Big market big money
Small market small money.. it makes it hard when you are NY or LA's minor league squad lol.

victims_sanction · 08-02-2015, 04:04 PM

Few weeks left in the year and KC just clinched their division at 85-69. I'm extremely interested in seeing how they fare in the playoffs.

bwburke94 · 08-02-2015, 07:22 PM

Ah, the old Marlins strategy of selling off the good players. It worked for the Marlins in '03, maybe it will work for the Royals?

07-26-2015, 05:13 AM	#5
tejdog1 All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Danbury, CT Posts: 1,650	When I strip it down, I strip it DOWN. I've routinely entered seasons with 14-17m payrolls. __________________ It's amazing How you make your face just like a wall How you take your heart and turn it off How I turn my head and lose it all And it's unnerving How just one move puts me by myself There you go just trusting someone else Now I know I put us both through hell ~Matchbox 20, "Leave" Everyone knows it's spelled "TRAID", not trade

07-26-2015, 05:33 AM	#6
tcoots423 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: KS Posts: 197	Big market big money Small market small money.. it makes it hard when you are NY or LA's minor league squad lol. __________________ "Greg Maddux could put a baseball through a life saver if you asked him." - Joe Morgan

07-23-2015, 01:51 AM	#1
victims_sanction Minors (Single A) Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 61	What's the lowest payroll you've seen in a modern MLB setting? In my game the year is 2019 and the Royals have a payroll of 46 million, which is just 20% of the #1 team (Dodgers ofc). Here is a quick look at their salary page; only 4 players make more than 1 million dollars. Despite this ridiculously low payroll the team is 37-36 and 1/2 game out of the AL Wild Card spot at the end of June. Maybe they got some new fancy stats out there in KC. Also, their budget is set for 124 million and they have 67 million to spend on FA - so budget doesn't seem to be the problem. Any way I thought this was cool when I discovered it and wanted to share and find out if anyone else has seen a payroll crazy low like this. If anyone wants more info / screenshots let me know. Last edited by victims_sanction; 07-23-2015 at 01:52 AM.

07-23-2015, 12:56 PM	#2
Assos All Star Starter Join Date: May 2004 Location: Just on the fair side of the foul pole! Posts: 1,772	I can not say in modern terms since I start my league in the late 1940s or 1950 at the latest. I do have to say I like the controlling personalities of the owners. I am in a fictional league right now and I have an owner who is CHEAP. I drafted a strong pitching team and I have very little payroll flexibility. I have the lowest payroll in the league and the lowest budget. I am in the first place, only a month and a half in and I know I need a bat. My budget is 15% lower then the second to lowest budget. I like to play tight, but this is real tight. I can not wait until the off season.

07-23-2015, 01:31 PM	#3
progen All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,530 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	Using real rosters, and because I like a real challenge, I'm in the year 2018, and I "manually" moved the Lancaster Barnstormers and the York Revolution from the Atlantic Independent League, to MLB. I didn't have an expansion draft, so with both teams on a 40m budget, I grabbed some cheap free agents, waiver wire picks, etc. And I am controlling both teams, one in the AL, one in the NL, with a long term goal of getting them both to the World Series at the same time. I like playing the game different ways, and with the hardest challenge I can come up with, realistic or not! Lancaster Payroll - 22.5m Last place NL east - 21-39 York Payroll - 23.75 - 4th in AL east - 28-33

07-24-2015, 12:18 AM	#4
MogulFiend13 Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 21	When I stripped down the Phillies and was trying to do a complete burn down rebuild I had a payroll of $38 million starting the season before I started trading for big contracts to get some prospects.

08-02-2015, 04:04 PM	#7
victims_sanction Minors (Single A) Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 61	Few weeks left in the year and KC just clinched their division at 85-69. I'm extremely interested in seeing how they fare in the playoffs.

08-02-2015, 07:22 PM	#8
bwburke94 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Belchertown, MA, USA Posts: 4,508	Ah, the old Marlins strategy of selling off the good players. It worked for the Marlins in '03, maybe it will work for the Royals?