:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63317969/usa_today_11188215.0.jpg)
The Dodgers opening day payroll in 2019 checks in just shy of $206 million, though roughly a quarter of that is on the injured list to start the season.
Starting pitchers Clayton Kershaw ($31 million) and Rich Hill ($18 million) inflate the Dodgers’ season-opening injured list payroll, which also includes Tony Cingrani ($2.65 million). The $51.65 million in salary on the injured list to open the season is the club’s highest since 2016.
Dodgers opening day payrolls
| Year | Active | IL | Dead | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Active | IL | Dead | Total |
| 2010 | $77.9 | $1.0 | $14.5 | $93.4 |
| 2011 | $83.4 | $13.4 | $16.3 | $113.1 |
| 2012 | $78.3 | $13.5 | $22.2 | $114.0 |
| 2013 | $185.3 | $40.5 | $16.0 | $241.8 |
| 2014 | $172.5 | $71.8 | $25.5 | $269.8 |
| 2015 | $195.9 | $24.7 | $45.5 | $266.0 |
| 2016 | $150.5 | $66.1 | $19.3 | $236.0 |
| 2017 | $161.2 | $27.7 | $38.9 | $227.8 |
| 2018 | $137.2 | $14.2 | $26.0 | $177.4 |
| 2019 | $123.7 | $51.7 | $30.6 | $206.0 |
Partially because of the high salary on the injured list, the Dodgers’ active 25-man roster on opening day accounts for $123.7 million, a 9.8% decrease from 2018 and the club’s lowest active opening day payroll since 2012 ($78.3 million), a month before the current ownership group took over.
But this is merely a snapshot of the payroll at the moment, sure to change many times over the course of the season. For that, keep up with our payroll worksheet, which is updated constantly throughout the year.
The total payroll stands at $205.9, a 16% increase over last season. That figure includes all monies paid out in 2019, including cash to San Diego and Cincinnati in two separate Matt Kemp trades, plus cash for Toronto in the trade for Russell Martin. The payroll also includes $8 million deferred from Scott Kazmir‘s 2016 salary.
Regarding the competitive balance tax, the Dodgers are at roughly $199.8 million, a figure that includes estimates for team benefit costs (pegged for now at $15 million; the 2018 figure was just over $14 million) and minor league salaries for players on the 40-man roster ($2.5 million). The competitive balance tax threshold for 2019 is $206 million, with the Dodgers subject to a 20% tax for any overage.
The CBT uses average annual value of contracts, which is why for instance Kenley Jansen is making $18 million in 2019 but has a CBT number of $16 million, the average of his $80 million, five-year deal. Another quirk is Yaisel Sierra, who is making $4 million this year but is off the 40-man roster and doesn’t count toward the competitive balance tax number.
In the seven full seasons since Guggenheim Partners bought the team, the Dodgers have an average opening day payroll of $232 million.
Most of the payroll numbers have been compiled throughout the year and are updated on our payroll worksheet, with USA Today filling in the gaps with some salaries.
Dodgers 2019 opening day payroll
| Pos | Player | 2019 salary | CBT number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Player | 2019 salary | CBT number |
| C | Austin Barnes | $575,000 | $575,000 |
| 1B | Max Muncy | $575,000 | $575,000 |
| IF/OF | Kiké Hernandez | $3,725,000 | $3,725,000 |
| 3B | Justin Turner | $18,000,000 | $16,000,000 |
| SS | Corey Seager | $4,000,000 | $4,000,000 |
| OF | Joc Pederson | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 |
| CF | A.J. Pollock | $13,000,000 | $12,000,000 |
| OF/1B | Cody Bellinger | $605,000 | $605,000 |
| IF/OF | Chris Taylor | $3,500,000 | $3,500,000 |
| C | Russell Martin | $20,000,000 | $16,400,000 |
| 1B/3B | David Freese | $4,500,000 | $4,500,000 |
| OF | Alex Verdugo | $560,000 | $560,000 |
| SP | Hyun-jin Ryu | $17,900,000 | $17,900,000 |
| SP | Ross Stripling | $595,000 | $595,000 |
| SP | Kenta Maeda | $3,000,000 | $3,125,000 |
| SP | Walker Buehler | $570,000 | $570,000 |
| SP | Julio Urias | $565,000 | $565,000 |
| CL | Kenley Jansen | $18,000,000 | $16,000,000 |
| RHP | Joe Kelly | $4,000,000 | $8,333,333 |
| RHP | Pedro Baez | $2,100,000 | $2,100,000 |
| LHP | Scott Alexander | $575,000 | $575,000 |
| RHP | Dylan Floro | $565,000 | $565,000 |
| LHP | Caleb Ferguson | $560,000 | $560,000 |
| RHP | Yimi Garcia | $710,000 | $710,000 |
| RHP | Brock Stewart | $565,000 | $565,000 |
| Total active | $123,745,000 | $119,603,333 | |
| Injured list | |||
| SP | Clayton Kershaw | $31,000,000 | $31,000,000 |
| SP | Rich Hill | $18,000,000 | $16,000,000 |
| LHP | Tony Cingrani | $2,650,000 | $2,650,000 |
| Total IL | $51,650,000 | $49,650,000 | |
| Dead money / off 40-man | |||
| Ret. | Chase Utley | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| AAA | Yaisel Sierra | $4,000,000 | |
| RHP | Josh Fields | $457,219 | $457,219 |
| Homer Bailey | $23,000,000 | $17,500,000 | |
| Scott Kazmir | $8,000,000 | ||
| Cash from Toronto (Martin) | -$16,400,000 | -$16,400,000 | |
| Cash to San Diego (Kemp) | $3,500,000 | $3,500,000 | |
| Cash to Reds (Kemp, etc) | $7,000,000 | $7,000,000 | |
| Minors (on 40-man) | $2,500,000 | ||
| Team benefit costs | $15,000,000 | ||
| Total dead money / other | $30,557,219 | $30,557,219 | |
| Total payroll | $205,952,219 | $199,810,552 |