All articles tagged with #payroll
With Blake Snell likely out after elbow surgery and Edwin Díaz sidelined, the Dodgers must rely on a record-breaking payroll to weather injuries, possibly resorting to bullpen games and deeper leverage while stars like Ohtani, Betts, Freeman and Muncy try to carry the offense through July and August.
The article argues that despite a massive payroll (around $380 million), the Mets have stumbled to a 10-21 start, found to be the worst offense in baseball and last in the NL East, undermining their playoff chances (down from about 87% on Opening Day to under 30%). It critiques the Stearns-era approach of signing expensive veterans who haven’t produced, notes injuries and aging players as widespread issues, and highlights some bright spots in the farm system and young pitching. With ownership under Steve Cohen seeking results, the piece suggests accountability for leadership and a potential need for strategic shifts if on-field performance doesn’t rebound quickly, as the money-to-wins equation is not working this season.
Through 30 games, the Braves own the league with elite offense and solid run prevention, signaling a true redemption arc. Meanwhile, a cluster of high-priced teams (Mets, Phillies, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Astros) are underperforming enough to spark managerial questions and playoff doubts. The Rockies are quietly rising under DePodesta with improved pitching and offense, Tony Vitello’s Giants face scrutiny after a slow start, and Murakami’s power surge provides a bright spotlight for the White Sox. Orioles’ expensive investments still lag, even as rookies nab early extensions signifying cost certainty amid CBA uncertainty. Dodgers’ megadeals look less efficient, José Soriano has emerged as an ace for the Angels, and the league’s shrinking strike zone is nudging scoring higher. In short, money isn’t everything—young talent and rule changes are reshaping the 2026 pace.
The Mets aren’t alone in a payroll-fueled slump: Phillies, Blue Jays, Red Sox, and Astros join them in underperforming, with a combined 43-74 through Tuesday, making them early contenders for the season’s biggest disappointment. The piece argues the blame lies more with front-office architects (Stearns, Dombrowski, Brown, Atkins, Breslow) than managers, though ownership influence and continued pressure on Mendoza, Thomson and Espada—despite notable extensions and resumes—complicate the path forward for these high-profile clubs.
New York’s Mets extended their 12-game losing streak, the longest in MLB this season, underscoring a painful disconnect between a massive payroll and on-field results. Despite moments like Francisco Lindor’s three-run homer and a strong start from Nolan McLean, a brutal ninth-inning meltdown sealed a staggering defeat as the team sits with the worst record in baseball and faces scrutiny over roster-building, leadership, and the pressure on owner Steve Cohen and GM David Stearns to translate spending into wins.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin warned that the department will run out of funds to pay salaries in the first week of May, as payroll—about $1.6 billion every two weeks—draws down and emergency funds are exhausted. Congress is weighing a funding package that would cover most DHS agencies but delay funding for ICE and CBP, with Republicans pressing a reconciliation path for immigration enforcement and Democrats accusing it of a blank check. About two‑thirds of DHS staff are furloughed, and Trump has pushed a June 1 deadline on immigration enforcement funding, tapping a $10 billion border‑security pot that has dwindled to around $1.4 billion.
A trio of high-spending MLB clubs—Mets, Phillies, and Astros—are under increased scrutiny as their on-field struggles raise the specter of in-season managerial changes. The piece argues that while firings aren’t guaranteed, owners in New York, Philadelphia, and Houston may feel compelled to act if rosters underperform, given the heavy payrolls and elevated expectations. Mendoza, Thomson, and Espada each face mounting pressure amid injuries, aging stars, and roster rebuilding challenges, with past examples suggesting that quick midseason moves can backfire or pay off depending on leadership and player performance.
Padres players react to the record $3.9 billion sale to a group led by Jose Feliciano and Kwanza Jones, viewing it as a sign of San Diego’s growing market and a potential boost for payroll flexibility. Players like Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. express optimism that new owners will invest in the roster, while noting that the broader implications include salary-cap debates and upcoming labor talks.
Thousands of Department of Homeland Security employees are working without pay during a partial government shutdown, after President Trump ordered TSA workers to be paid. About 92% of DHS’s roughly 272,000 staff remain on duty with no clear end in sight. CNN is asking DHS employees who haven’t received pay to share how the shutdown has affected them for a future story.
The Dodgers are building a modern dynasty through a culture-first approach that emphasizes preparation, accountability, and leadership from stars like Betts and Freeman, paired with savvy payroll tactics (structure and deferrals that free up luxury-tax space) and innovative operations (a players-only plane) to attract and retain top talent, maximize postseason readiness, and fund big signings like Ohtani, Diaz, and Tucker—positioning them as a destination team in a high-spending market while pursuing back-to-back titles and a third championship in the era.
MLB placed Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz on unpaid, non-disciplinary leave to begin the 2026 season as their gambling-related case advances; both were previously on paid administrative leave, indicted on multiple charges, with a trial delay potentially keeping them out for the season and shaping Cleveland’s payroll.
With TSA workers unpaid during the partial government shutdown, more than 300 have quit and call-out rates surged (10.19% Sunday; 9.25% previously), fueling long security lines at major airports nationwide as staffing shortages bite travelers.
Atlanta revealed BravesVision, a self-owned TV network set to launch in 2026 and beyond, alongside a Chris Sale extension guaranteeing $27 million for 2027 with a possible $30 million for 2028, signaling greater financial flexibility to extend core players (notably Ronald Acuña Jr.) and pursue bigger payroll opportunities, though Acuña’s long-term extension remains complex due to injuries and earnings potential.
Boston traded right-hander Jordan Hicks and pitching prospect David Sandlin to the White Sox for pitching prospect Gage Ziehl in a salary-dump intended to shave about $3 million off the team’s second CBT hit and open two 40-man spots. Hicks, who had a four-year, $44 million pact with the Giants and underperformed for Boston, will thus contribute roughly $4 million per year to the Red Sox’s luxury-tax payroll going forward. The deal underscores the ongoing Devers saga and the broader effort to clean up last year’s roster mess, with questions remaining about whether the moves will produce lasting on-field improvement.
An American-Statesman analysis of the City of Austin’s FY2025 payroll shows 13,567 full-time workers, a median regular pay of $86,711, and City Manager T.C. Broadnax at the top with $538,608 in total pay (no overtime). Overtime drives many top earners’ totals, especially in Police and Austin Energy, where 139 employees earned as much or more in overtime as in regular pay; Police Chief Lisa Davis received no overtime. Mayor Kirk Watson earned $151,443. Overall, overtime totals were $52.2M for Police, $22.2M for Fire, and $19M for Austin Energy, with Emergency Medical Services relying on overtime for ~27% of pay. The Information Security Office had the highest median regular pay at $147,530; the Law Department the second at $121,555. Data reflect FY2025 full-time, non-temporary staff as of Sept. 20, 2025, from public records.