Average salary hit new high after 14.8 percent rise in ’22

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball’s average salary rose 14.8 percent to a record $4.22 million last year after the end of the lockout, boosted by big deals for Max Scherzer, Francisco Lindor, Marcus Semien and Corey Seager.

The rate of increase was the highest since a 17.7 percent increase in 2000 to $1.61 million, according to final calculations by the players’ association.

The average had dropped in each of the previous four seasons before 2022, sparking player anger that was expressed during a 99-day lockout that ended last March.

Last year’s average salary was calculated by the union at $4,222,193, up from $3,679,335 in 2021. MLB, which uses a slightly different method, calculated the average at $4,117,472, up 15 percent from $3,579,341 in 2021.

Payrolls, a more complete reflection on spending, rose 12.6 percent to $4.56 billion from $4.05 billion.

Salaries have escalated higher this past offseason. The Mets have boosted their payroll to a projected $370 million, well past the previous record of $297.9 million of the 2015 Los Angeles Dodgers.

Commissioner Rob Manfred has said MLB had $10.8 billion in revenue last year.

Neither side included the $50 million bonus pool for pre-arbitration-eligible players.

Early data shows pitch clock works

By the time Cubs outfielder Brennen Davis actually saw a pitch from Arizona’s Joe Mantiply, the count was already at a ball and a strike.

Both the hitter and pitcher were penalized at the start of Davis’ at-bat to lead off the top of the third inning of Monday’s spring training game, the latest odd twist in baseball’s speed-up rules. After Mantiply entered the game as a reliever, he took too long to throw his warmup pitches; then Davis was too slow to get ready for the pitch.

Major League Baseball approved its first pitch clock this season, and every day is a new experience for the players as they try to get used to them this spring.

The new rules, which also limit the number of times a pitcher can throw to first base, have helped cut more than 20 minutes from spring training games through the first weekend, dropping from an average of 3 hours, 1 minute last spring to 2:39.

Dodgers INF Lux exits with injury

Dodgers infielder Gavin Lux went down going from second to third in Monday’s game against the San Diego Padres and had to he taken off the field on a cart. He was clutching his right leg.

Ex-Houston GM hired by Toronto

Former Houston Astros general manager James Click was hired by the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday as vice president of baseball strategy.

Click, 45, helped build the Houston teams that went to three straight AL Championship Series and back-to-back World Series, winning it all last year. But he clashed with owner Jim Crane, and the Astros announced six days after clinching the championship that he would not be back.