If I Had A Million Dollars, I’d Buy A Win
The average price of a Major League Baseball win exceeded a million dollars in 2008. The league cost per victory was $1,185,897.
The New York Yankees had the worst return of investment as each win cost them over $2,500,000. Expect more of the same in 2009 with the signings of Mark Teixeira and C. C. Sabathia.
The Florida Marlins enjoyed the best bang for the buck at just over $300,000 per win.
The 2008 World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies paid more than twice as much per win than the runner-up Tampa Bay Rays.
| Team | Payroll | Wins | Cost Per Win |
| New York Yankees | $222,519,480 | 89 | $2,500,219 |
| Seattle Mariners | $120,456,113 | 61 | $1,974,690 |
| Detroit Tigers | $136,198,404 | 74 | $1,840,519 |
| New York Mets | $144,693,962 | 89 | $1,625,775 |
| Boston Red Sox | $147,075,645 | 95 | $1,548,165 |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | $125,864,496 | 84 | $1,498,387 |
| Chicago Cubs | $130,508,691 | 97 | $1,345,450 |
| Atlanta Braves | $92,494,314 | 72 | $1,284,643 |
| Los Angeles Angels | $128,142,467 | 100 | $1,281,425 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | $109,989,046 | 86 | $1,278,942 |
| Chicago White Sox | $113,641,026 | 89 | $1,276,865 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | $112,654,711 | 92 | $1,224,508 |
| MLB Average | $2,879,357,538 | 2428 | $1,185,897 |
| Houston Astros | $100,189,948 | 86 | $1,164,999 |
| Baltimore Orioles | $78,888,250 | 68 | $1,160,121 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | $98,343,520 | 86 | $1,143,529 |
| San Francisco Giants | $82,074,873 | 72 | $1,139,929 |
| San Diego Padres | $71,212,182 | 63 | $1,130,352 |
| Cincinnati Reds | $82,886,440 | 74 | $1,120,087 |
| Washington Nationals | $59,699,668 | 59 | $1,011,859 |
| Colorado Rockies | $74,791,621 | 74 | $1,010,698 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | $90,324,347 | 90 | $1,003,604 |
| Texas Rangers | $78,640,138 | 79 | $995,445 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | $80,998,526 | 82 | $987,787 |
| Cleveland Indians | $78,663,582 | 81 | $971,155 |
| Kansas City Royals | $69,297,547 | 75 | $923,967 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | $50,764,410 | 67 | $757,678 |
| Minnesota Twins | $65,096,667 | 88 | $739,735 |
| Oakland Athletics | $55,223,294 | 75 | $736,311 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | $51,020,720 | 97 | $525,987 |
| Florida Marlins | $27,003,450 | 84 | $321,470 |
Payroll figures from the Chicago Tribune.
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