Yankees collection report payroll at $230M; Astros $27M

NEW YORK (AP) a The New York Yankees set a record for baseball's greatest opening-day paycheck at $230.4 million, nearly 10 times what the Houston Astros are paying their players. After all the talk of spending discipline throughout the offseason, the Yankees began the summer season Monday well in front of the Los Angeles Dodgers, in accordance with research of major league contracts by The Associated Press. "We would be the Yankees. We have had a lot of success doing work the way in which that we do it," Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira said. "Why can you change?" The Dodgers at $214.8 million became only the 2nd business to separate the $200 million barrier. The Yankees have topped it six years in a line. The highest payroll does not be taken by "it to win," Dodgers President Stan Kasten said. "You can't win by writing the largest income. I do not speak about our payroll. I discuss our players. We will not necessarily have to sign the biggest free agents and make the biggest trades to be the best team." At another end, Houston was last at $27.3 million, down from about $61 million beginning time last year and significantly less than the major league-leading $29 million for the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez. Houston's paycheck could be the lowest since the 2008 Florida Marlins were at $22 million. Beginning their first season in the American League, games have been lost 213 by the Astros during the past two years. After a failed first season within their new ballpark and an offseason spent reducing stars, the Miami Marlins dropped from about $90 million to 29th at $44.7 million. Fourteen groups topped $100 million, up from nine at the start of last season. Philadelphia was third at $160 million, followed closely by Boston ($157.6 million), AL champion Detroit ($150.5 million), the Los Angeles Angels ($141.9 million) and World Series champion San Francisco ($138 million). Toronto was still another team that changed its approach through the offseason, raising its payroll from $75 million to $118 million. The average for the 856 players on effective rosters and incapable databases plus the four players offering suspensions was $3.65 million, up 6.1 per cent from $3.44 million at the steepest increase since 2008 and the start of last season. Million-dollar incomes rose by 15 to 463, which involves 54 per cent of players. The amount of $10 million players enhanced from 89 to 103, and $20 million stars jumped from 14 to 21. Just 44 people make the $490,000 minimum. The average income, the idea where an equal number is below and above, increased by $187,500 to a record $1,262,500. There have been 102 participants on disabled lists, one under on last year opening day. Etc AP Sports Writer Beth Harris added for this report.