Much has been made about the Cubs having MLB’s third-highest revenue and just the 14th-highest player payroll, a disparity that angered many fans throughout the season. Then there’s that oft-cited BrooksGate graphic showing that the Cubs ranked 26th in terms of the percentage of their reported gross revenue dedicated to payroll last season (36.4%). They fell right between Cleveland and Pittsburgh, teams that generated roughly $250 million less than the North Siders.
This topic has gained steam in light of the recent announcement that Marquee Sports Network has let several employees go in light of financial issues with its digital offerings.