Quote:
Originally Posted by Biggio509
In the modern game minor league costs to the parent club are actually the salaries of the minor league players.
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As an FYI to this, the numbers for the Texas Rangers, according to its (leaked) financial documents. Note that the major league parent club, in addition to the player, manager, and coach salaries, also pays a portion of the travel costs of the minor league club as well as some of its other expenses.
Code:
TEXAS RANGERS MINOR LEAGUE EXPENSES
2008 2007
Class AAA Manager & coaches 191,343 204,396
(PCL) Players 2,248,899 565,964
All other expenses 533,903 328,585
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TOTAL 2,974,145 1,098,945
Class AA Manager & coaches 187,519 185,055
(TL) Players 422,675 432,514
All other expenses 312,564 285,322
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TOTAL 922,758 902,891
Class A-High Manager & coaches 165,279 150,600
(CAL) Players 201,372 206,875
All other expenses 260,367 249,043
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TOTAL 627,018 606,517
Class A-Low Manager & coaches 165,458 153,688
(MWL) Players 206,133 188,529
All other expenses 297,299 214,902
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TOTAL 668,890 557,120
Class A-Short Manager & coaches 153,667 150,698
(NWL) Players 107,362 98,175
All other expenses 258,783 211,719
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TOTAL 519,812 460,592
Rookie Manager & coaches 173,379 115,165
(AZL) Players 222,207 233,563
All other expenses 519,525 488,084
TOTAL 915,111 836,812
Instructional Manager & players 20,675 16,025
All other expenses 269,282 223,682
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TOTAL 289,957 239,707
Fall Staff 12,250 23,133
(AFL) Players 34,783 57,823
All other expenses 13,620 18,545
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TOTAL 60,654 99,502
The reason for the large difference in Triple-A player salaries in 2008 versus 2007 was due to a major league player being outrighted to the AAA club and accepting the assignment (meaning he kept getting paid that large salary).
By taking the total player salary bill and dividing by the number of players on the active roster, we get an approximation for the average salary. With the roster limits being 24, 24, 25, 25, 30, and 35 for AAA, AA, A-High, A-Low, A-Short, and Rookie, respectively, the average salary looks like this:
Triple-A: $93,704 (2008); $23,582 (2007)
Double-A: $17,611; $18,021
High-A: $8,055; $8,275
Low-A: $8,245; $7,541
Short-A: $3,579; $3,272
Rookie: $6,349; $6,673
The amount of the average player salary for the Rookie league affiliate looks high compared to the average salary in the minor league levels immediately above it. Since the Rangers' documents make no explicit reference to the signing bonuses paid to drafted amateur players,it's possible such signing bonuses have to some degree been counted as part of the salaries for the Rookie league players. Can't say for sure though.
One this is certain: one doesn't play minor league baseball for the money. Because there's little to be made. (Which is why signing bonuses matter so much: it's the only real money most drafted players will ever see for quite a few years.)