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This year's playoff field shows once again that large payrolls don't guarantee success in Major League Baseball, but they sure do make life easier.
Of the 14 largest payrolls in baseball this season, according to Spotrac, nine are among the ten playoff teams. The only playoff team not among the top 50% in payrolls is the Cleveland Indians, whose $114 million payrolls ranks 23rd out of the 30 teams.
Of the teams among the top 14 payrolls that did not make the playoffs (Yankees, Tigers, Angels, Cardinals, Mariners), the Angels (No. 7, $181 million) are the only team that was not still in contention in the final week of the season.
Cork Gaines/Business Insider