Payroll

Past and Present Twins Payroll Information

MLB team salaries are difficult to ascertain because teams and players for the most part want to keep this data under wraps. Salary information can and often is calculated very differently, some use Opening Day salaries, some use end of season salaries, some add in DL players, sunk money, etc. So we will give you a couple choices here to ponder and they each have lots of past, present and future information for you to look at. 

Spotrac

Baseball Prospectus – Cot’s Baseball Contracts

FanGraphs

 

Historical Twins Salary Information

Data provided primarily by the Biz of Baseball, Spotrac.com, and Forbes

 

Year	Salary	MLB Salary Rank	Highest Paid Player	Salary	Division Standing	Record
2023	$153,713,740	17 of 30	Carlos Correa	$33,333,333	1 of 5	87-75
2022	$134,408,190***	18 of 30	Carlos Correa	$35,100,000	3 of 5	78-84
2021	$125,277,666	16 of 30	Josh Donaldson	$21,000.000	5 of 5	73-89
2020	$45,620,603**	18 of 30	Josh Donaldson	$18,750,000	1 of 5	36-24
2019	$119,651,933	18 of 30	Nelson Cruz	$14,000,000	1 of 5	101-61
2018	$128,713,226	18 of 30	Joe Mauer	$23,000,000	2 of 5	78-84
2017	$108,102,500	21 of 30	Joe Mauer	$23,000,000	2 of 5	85-77
2016	$105,333,700	18 of 30	Joe Mauer	$23,000,000	5 of 5	59-103
2015	$108,102,500*	19 of 30	Joe Mauer	$23,000,000	2 of 5	83-79
2014	$85,465,000	18 of 30	Joe Mauer	$23,000,000	5 of 5	70-92
2013	$82,010,000	21 of 30	Joe Mauer	$23,000,000	4 of 5	66-96
2012	$100,435,000	11 of 30	Joe Mauer	$23,000,000	5 of 5	66-96
2011	$113,237,000	9 of 30	Joe Mauer	$23,000,000	5 of 5	63-99
2010	$97,659,167	10 of 30	Justin Morneau	$15,000,000	1 of 5	94-68
2009	$56,932,766	24 of 30	Justin Morneau	$11,600.000	1 of 5	87-76
2008	$56,932,766	25 of 30	Justin Morneau	$8,400,000	2 of 5	88-75
2007	$71,439,500	18 of 30	Johan Santana	$13,000,000	3 of 5	79-83
2006	$63,396,006	19 of 30	Torii Hunter	$10,750,000	1 of 5	96-66
2005	$56,186,000	22 of 30	Brad Radke	$9,000,000	3 of 5	83-79
2004	$53,585,000	20 of 30	Brad Radke	$10,750,000	1 of 5	92-70
2003	$55,505,000	19 of 30	Brad Radke	$8,750,000	1 of 5	90-72
2002	$40,225,000	28 of 30	Brad Radke	$8,750,000	1 of 5	94-67
2001	$24,130,000	30 of 30	Brad Radke	$7,750,000	2 of 5	85-77
2000	$15,700,000	30 of 30	Brad Radke	$3,500,000	5 of 5	69-93
1999	$21,257,500	30 of 30	Rick Aguilera	$4,300,000	5 of 5	63-97
1998	$27,927,500	24 of 30	Paul Molitor	$4,250,000	4 of 5	70-92
1997	$34,072,500	22 of 28	Kirby Puckett	$7,200,000	4 of 5	68-94
1996	$23,117,000	23 of 28	Kirby Pucktt	$6,200,000	4 of 5	78-84
1995	$25,410,500	24 of 28	Kirby Puckett	$6,300,000	5 of 5	56-88
1994	$28,438,500	21 of 28	Kirby Puckett	$5,300,000	4 of 5	53-60
1993	$28,217,933	20 of 28	Kirby Puckett	$5,300,000	5 of 7	71-91
1992	$28,027,834	17 of 26	John Smiley	$3,400,000	2 of 7	90-72
1991	$23,361,833	12 of 26	Jack Morris	$3,700,000	1 of 7	95-67
1990	$14,602,000	18 of 26	Kirby Puckett	$2,816,667	7 of 7	74-88
1989	$15,531,666	9 of 26	Frank Viola	$2,766,666	5 of 7	80-82
1988	$12,462,666	12 of 26	Gary Gaetti	$1,666,666	2 of 7	91-71
1987	$6,397,500	23 of 26	Kent Hrbek	$1,310,000	1 of 7	85-77
1986	$8,748,167	23 of 26	Bert Blyleven	$1,450,000	6 of 7	71-91
1985	$5,764,821	25 of 26	Roy Smalley	$728,571	4 of 7	77-85
1984	$1,960,000		John Castino	$600,000	2 of 7	81-81
1983	$2,200,000		Ron Davis	$475,000	5 of 7	70-92
1982	$1,981,000		Roy Smalley	$600,000	7 of 7	60-102
1981	$2,256,667		Butch Wynegar	$460,000	7 of 7	41-68
1980	$1,166,667				3 of 7	77-84
1979	$366,667				4 of 7	82-80
1978	$601,000				4 of 7	73-89
1977	$589,200				4 of 7	84-77
1976	$405,000				3 of 6	85-77
1975	$359,500				4 of 6	76-83
1974	$535,300				3 of 6	82-80
1973	$485,500				3 of 6	81-81
1972	$519,850				3 of 6	77-77
1971	$657,600				5 of 6	74-86
1970	?				1 of 6	98-64
1969	?				1 of 6	97-65
1968	?				7 of 10	79-83
1967	?				2 of 10	91-71
1966	$650,000				2 of 10	89-73
1965	?				1 of 10	102-60
1964	?				6 of 10	79-83
1963	?				3 of 10	91-70
1962	?				2 of 10	91-71
1961	?				7 of 10	70-90

*** = Expanded roster sizes to 28 for first month

** = Expanded rosters, pro-rated pay over a 60 game schedule 

* = Includes $6,666,667 that was not paid because of Ervin Santana 80 game suspension

 

History of MLB Minimum and Average Salaries

YEAR	MINIMUM SALARY	AVERAGE SALARY
2026	$780,000
2025	$760,000
2024	$740,000
2023	$720,000
2022	$700,000	$4,414,184 million (AP)
2021	$570,500	$4,167,164 million (players union)
2020	$563,500 - prorated to $208,574	$3.89 million (players union) **
2019	$555,000	$4,051,490 (players Union)
2018	$545,000	$4,095,686 (players union)
2017	$535,000	$4,097,122 (players union)
2016	$507,500	$4,400,000 (USA Today)
2015	$507,500*	$4,250,000 (USA Today)
2014	$500,000*	$3,818,923 (players union)
2013	$480,000*	$3,386,212 (players union)
2012	$480,000	$3,213,479 (players union)
2011	$414,000	$3,095,183 (players union)
2010	$400,000	$3,014,572 (players union)
2009	$400,000	$2,996,106 (players union)
2008	$390,000	$3,925,679 (players union)
2007	$380,000	$2,824,751 (players union)
2006	$327,000	$2,699,292 (players union)
2005	$316,000	$2,476,589 (players union)
2004	$300,000	$2,313,535 (players union)
2003	$300,000	$2,372,189 (players union)
2002	$200,000	$2,340,920
2001	$200,000	$2,138,896
2000	$200,000	$1,895,630
1999	$200,000	$1,611,166
1998	$170,000	$1,398,831
1997	$150,000	$1,336,609
1996	$122,667	$1,119,981
1995	$109,000	$1,110,766
1994	$109,000	$1,168,263
1993	$109,000	$1,076,089
1992	$109,000	$1,028,667
1991	$100,000	$851,492
1990	$100,000	$597,537
1989	$68,000	$497,254
1988	$62,500	$438,729
1987	$62,500	$412,454
1986	$60,000	$412,520
1985	$60,000	$371,571
1984	$40,000	$329,408
1983	$35,000	$289,194
1982	$33,500	$241,497
1981	$32,500	$185,651
1980	$30,000	$143,756
1979	$21,000	$113,558
1978	$21,000	$99,876
1977	$19,000	$76,066
1976	$19,000	$51,501
1975	$16,000	$44,676
1974	$15,000	$40,839
1973	$15,000	$36,566
1972	$13,500	$34,092
1971	$12,750	$31,543
1970	$12,000	$29,303
1969	$10,000	$24,909
1968	$10,000	n/a
1967	$6,000	$19,000
1966
1965
1964
1963
1962
1961

** = Because the pandemic caused players to receive roughly 37% of pay, the actual average plunged to $1.59 million, its lowest since 1998.

* = Plus cost of living adjustment

 

MLB and Players Union Agreements

CBA History – A summary of the collective bargaining history between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association (Baseball Prospectus Cot’s Baseball Contracts)

 

MLB highlights unique features for 2020 season

Details of MLB-players’ union agreement on 2020, ’21 seasons

 

MLB Basic Agreement 2022-26 (Final)

All the details in MLB’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement 2022-2026

2017 thru 2021 MLB CBA

2012-2016 MLB Basic Agreement

MLB 2003-2006 Basic Agreement.pdf

CBA 1997-2000.PDF

SABR list of MLB annual salary leaders from 1874

Index the Minimum Salary to MLBAM and TV Revenue (4/13/2016)

 

Forbes list of MLB team values (updated with 2023 data)

Forbes annually publishes what they perceive to be the values of all the major league baseball teams taking a number of things into consideration. You can find their most current list that was published by going here. Keep in mind the data is for the last completed season. Once you are at their site and you see their value ranking list, you can get more detailed information on what makes up a particulars teams value by clicking on the team name. The Minnesota Twins are ranked number 22 and you can see the detailed info that was collected by Forbes by clicking here. In the AL Central division the White Sox are ranked number 15, the Detroit Tigers are ranked number 21, the Cleveland Guardians are number 25 and the Kansas City Royals are number 27. As you would expect, the New York Yankees are number one at a team valuation of $7.1 billion (up 18% for 2022) and the Miami Marlins have the lowest team valuation at $1 billion.

Forbes Annual MLB Team Valuations - Minnesota Twins Historical Information

YEAR	VALUE	REVENUE	OPERATING INCOME	PLAYER EXPENSES
2023	$1.39 billion	$267 million	-$27 million	$172 million
2022	$1.39 billion	$268 million	$10 million	$141 million
2021	$1.325 billion	$111 million	-$49 million	$66 million
2020	$1.3 billion	$297 million	$43 million	$144 million
2019	$1.2 billion	$269 million*	$14 million	$151 million
2018	$1.15 billion	$261 million	$23.0 million	$133 million
2017	$1.025 billion	$249 million	$29.9 million	$123 million
2016	$910 million	$240 million	$18.5 million	$125 million
2015	$895 million	$223 million	$21.3 million	$106 million
2014	$605 million	$221 million	$30.2 million	$97 million
2013	$578 million	$214 million	$10.8 million	$122 million
2012	$511 million	$213 million	$16.8 million	$121 million
2011	$490 million	$213 million	$26.5 million	$112 milliom
2010	$405 million	$162 million	$25 million	$83 million
2009	$356 million	$158 million	$26.8 million	$80 million
2008	$328 million	$149 million	$23.8 million	$81 million
2007	$288 million	$131 million	$14.8 million	$76 million
2006	$216 million	$114 million	$6.9 million	$73 million
2005	$178 million	$102 million	Not Available	$69 million
2004
2003	$148 million	Not Available	$400,000	Not Available
2002	$127 million	$75 million	$3.6 million	Not Available
2001	$99 million	$58 million	$5.8 million	Not Available
2000	$91 million	$47.7 million	$2.2 million	Not Available
1999	$89 million	$46.8 million	$7.1 million	Not Avaiable
1998	$94 million	$46.8 million	-$16.5 million	Not Available
1997	$77 million	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
1996	$74 million	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
1995	$80 million	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available

-Value of team based on current stadium deal (unless new stadium is pending) without deduction for debt (other than stadium debt).
-Revenue numbers are for the previous season.
-Operating Income is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
-Player expenses include benefits and bonuses.

 * – Revenue and operating income (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) measure cash in versus cash out (not accrual accounting) for the 2018 season. Our figures include the postseason and are net of revenue sharing and stadium debt payments for which the team is responsible. Revenues include the prorated upfront bonuses networks pay teams as well as proceeds from non-MLB events at the ballpark. The nonrecurring $50 million each team received in 2018 from the sale of a stake in BamTech to Walt Disney was excluded, as were profits or losses from team-owned RSNs.

Update 12/2/22 – https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/11/mlb-sells-remaining-bamtech-share-to-disney.html

 

The Dollars of Baseball

The average salary in major league baseball in 2010 surpassed $3,000,000 for the first time. Free agency came into baseball in 1975 when arbitrator Peter Seitz ruled that since pitchers Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally played for one season without a contract, they could become free agents. This decision essentially dismantled the reserve clause and opened the door to widespread free agency. At the time, the average big league player was making $44,676 and since then the average salary has risen over 6,600%. There is a very interesting all be it long (35 pages) historical write-up on the Reserve Clause written by Ben Heuer that you can check out here. There is also a nice piece written in The Atlantic in 2011 on Curt Flood and his attempt in 1970 to fight the Reserve Clause after being traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Philadelphia Phillies that you can read by going here.

A good friend Stew Thornley wrote “The Demise of the Reserve Clause”, it is well worth your time to check it out here.

MLB fired arbitrator Peter Seitz in 1975 after Seitz granted free-agent status to Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally. Read more about it here.

 

Salary Arbitration

A collective bargaining agreement was signed on February 23, 1973 between the players union and the owners which provided for “salary arbitration” as a means for resolving salary disputes. The process certainly is not loved by everyone; “The arbitration process is the worst thing that has happened to the Major League teams since the Black Sox scandal,” says one veteran executive who has worked for a number of clubs and has vast experience related to arbitration cases. The process however; can be difficult for both the player and the club involved. There is a relatively easy to understand “arbitration 101” write-up on major league baseball that you can view at Arbitration 101.

The Minnesota Twins were involved in salary arbitration early on, as a matter of fact, Twins pitcher Dick Woodson was the first player to ever go through the process. On Monday, February 11, 1974 pitcher Woodson, Players Association attorney Richard Moss, Twins owner Calvin Griffith, and American league attorney James P. Garner all met in a room before arbitrator Henry Platt for more than four hours in MLB’s first salary arbitration hearing. When the smoke had cleared and this historic meeting was completed, Platt had ruled in favor of Dick Woodson and his request for $30,000 versus the $23,000 that owner Griffith had offered on behalf of the Minnesota Twins. The Woodson hearing was the first of 498 hearings that have taken place through March of 2011. Although Woodson won the hearing and the $30,000, neither he or owner Calvin Griffith were totally happy. After Griffith also lost hearings to Larry Hisle and Steve Braun he reacted angrily by saying “It cost me about $15,000. But I’ll find a way to get my money back, I’ll trade ’em.” Infielder Steve Braun and outfielder Larry Hisle survived the 1974 season but Woodson did not, Griffith held true to his word and sent Woodson packing to the New York Yankees for minor league pitcher Mike Pazik. After pitching in only 8 games for the Yankees, Woodson was sent to the minors and never pitched in the big leagues again. To listen to Dick Woodson talk about his salary arbitration process, just click on the play button below.

Dick Woodson talks about the first salary arbitration case

The era of salary arbitration had begun. In 1974 and 1975 the arbitration system had produced positive results for the players regardless if they had won or lost their cases. The Dave McNally and Andy Messersmith arbitration decisions and the difficult labor relations climate in general in baseball produced a lockout of the players during spring training in 1976 from March 1-17 and salary arbitration was suspended and a new agreement was not in place until July. All players whose contracts had expired after the 1976 season were declared to be free agents so no salary arbitration was required in 1977. When the 1976 agreement was reached, the arbitration process that was used for 1974 and 1975 was modified and a player could only go to arbitration through consent from both the club and the player. In addition, free agency was granted with six years of service. During the 1980 negotiations, ownership pressed to eliminate salary arbitration with a fixed salary scheme and compensation for a team losing a player to free agency but instead ended up with an agreement that reduced arbitration to only two years of service. Over the years a number of changes have taken place to the salary arbitration process and you can read all about them by going to this very interesting Marquette Sports Law Review article written in 2009: A Most Interesting Part of Baseballs Monetary Structure – Marquette Sports Law Review – 2009

In May of 2013 there was a paper done by Edward Silverman for the Pepperdine Law Review titled: Dick Woodson’s revenge _ Silverman

 

MLB Salary Arbitration Cases Heard thru 2023

 

Year	Arbitration cases heard	Player wins	Club wins
2023	19	6	13
2022	13	4	9
2021	9	4	5
2020	12	5	7
2019	10	6	4
2018	22	12	10
2017	14	7	7
2016	4	3	1
2015	14	6	8
2014	3	1	2
2013	0	0	0
2012	7	2	5
2011	3	2	1
2010	8	3	5
2009	3	2	1
2008	8	2	6
2007	7	3	4
2006	6	2	4
2005	3	1	2
2004	7	3	4
2003	7	2	5
2002	5	1	4
2001	14	6	8
2000	10	4	6
1999	11	2	9
1998	8	3	5
1997	5	1	4
1996	10	7	3
1995	8	2	6
1994	16	6	10
1993	18	6	12
1992	20	9	11
1991	17	6	11
1990	24	14	10
1989	12	7	5
1988	18	7	11
1987	26	10	16
1986	35	15	20
1985	13	6	7
1984	10	4	6
1983	30	13	17
1982	23	8	15
1981	21	11	10
1980	26	15	11
1979	12	8	4
1978	9	2	7
1977	n/a	n/a	n/a
1976	n/a	n/a	n/a
1975	16	6	10
1974	29	13	16
TOTALS thru 2023	625	268 or 42.88%	357 or 57.12%

 

Minnesota Twins Salary Arbitration Cases thru 2023

The Twins have gone to arbitration a total of 30 times since the process started and they have won 17 times (57%) and the players have won 13 times (43%). 

Twins pitcher Dick Woodson was the first player to ever go through the arbitration process and you can listen to Dick’s take on the experience in the interview I did with Dick which you can find on this same page.

Since 1999 the Twins have only been to arbitration on five occasions. Like most teams, the Twins try to settle before going through the process because the process can be so difficult for both the player and the team. The last player to take the Twins to arbitration was Jose Berrios in 2020.

 

Year	Name	Player number	Twins Number	Winner
2020	Jose Berrios	$4,400,000	$4,025,000	Twins
2018	Kyle Gibson	$4,550,000	$4,200,000	Twins
2006	Kyle Lohse	$3,950,000	$3.400,000	Lohse
2005	Kyle Lohse	$2,400,000	$2,150,000	Lohse
2004	Johan Santana	$2,450,000	$1,600,000	Twins
1999	Matt Lawton	$2,400,000	$1,700,000	Twins
1998	Frankie Rodriguez	$880,000	$425,000	Twins
1996	Chuck Knoblauch	$4,670,000	$3,750,000	Knoblauch
1986	Gary Gaetti	$675,000	$515,000	Twins
1986	Tim Laudner	$250,000	$155,000	Twins
1986	Frank Viola	$674,000	$525,000	Viola
1985	Tom Brunansky	$600,000	$425,000	Twins
1983	Bobby Castillo	$350,000	$185,000	Twins
1983	Ron Davis	$475,000	$360,000	Davis
1982	Roger Erickson	$160,000	$105,000	Erickson
1981	John Castino	$210,000	$150,000	Castino
1981	Ron Jackson	$200,000	$130,500	Jackson
1980	Ron Jackson	$150,000	$115,000	Twins
1980	Geoff Zahn	$200,000	$130,000	Zahn
1978	Mike Cubbage	$72,500	$51,000	Twins
1978	Tom Johnson	$92,500	$62,000	Johnson
1978	Roy Smalley	$110,000	$85,000	Twins
1978	Geoff Zahn	$59,000	$45,000	Twins
1975	Bert Blyleven	$85,000	$65,000	Twins
1975	Steve Braun	$39,500	$36,500	Twins
1975	Tom Burgmeier	$35,000	$28,500	Twins
1975	Rod Carew	$140,000	$120,000	Twins
1974	Larry Hisle	$29,000	$23,000	Hisle
1974	Steve Braun	$31,000	$25,000	Braun
1974	Dick Woodson	$30,000	$23,000	Woodson

 

Updated 12/20/2023