When the Phillies handed Odubel Herrera a five-year, $30.5 million extension, it was the most guaranteed money they handed to any one player since Cole Hamels earned his large, $144 million deal in 2012. That lack of large contracts caused the team’s payroll to plummet, reaching a new low this year.
The Associated Press obtained the payroll numbers submitted by each team for luxury tax purposes, which includes “items such as health and pension benefits; club medical costs; insurance; workman’s compensation, payroll, unemployment and Social Security taxes; spring training allowances; meal and tip money; All-Star game expenses; travel and moving expenses; postseason pay; and college scholarships.