Clayton Kershaw is the highest paid player on the highest payroll of the Majors with the Dodgers. Los Angeles is currently sitting at nearly $240 MIL for total team payroll, and will enter the 2nd year of their Luxury Tax Threshold Penalty, where they will pay a 30% surcharge on any monies spent over $189 MIL. As it stands right now, the club will pay somewhere north of $15 MIL this year. If the Dodgers are in penalty again for 2015, they will pa 40% of any cash over the Threshold. Abusers of the tax for 4 years and beyond pay $50%. With their payroll this year, it would cost Los Angeles over $25 MIL if they were at that limit.

The Angels were smart enough to keep some payroll flexibility for the Trade Deadline – and still be under the $189 MIL limit. They have traded for Huston Street – and will pay him $3 MIL for the rest of the year. This club should go all out in spending right now, because they are not influenced by a pending Mike Trout $22 MIL a year contract (AAV) that starts on the clock in 2015. This will be the last year the club has ample space under that bar. They could pick up some serious talent, and be responsible for only a 1/3rd of the salary for the rest of the year if they brought more big ticket players in prior to the Deadline.  The Payroll $ in $155 doesn’t reflect the actual (AAV) either for Hamilton and Pujols, as their actual $ they make in 2014 is nowhere near the average annual rate both men possess.  Having said that, the team still has some wiggle room

The Pirates sitting in 28th for total team payroll is a joke when you consider their fan support at PNC Park for both 2013 and 2014. The good news is that they could really add a lot of talent come Deadline time, and not have it jolt the salaries that much for the last 2 months. Pittsburgh should be trying to trade for talent with expiring contracts at the end of the campaign. Like Seattle, Oakland and Milwaukee (who reside 20th or lower in payroll) this team has done a great job with value per wins on money being spent.  Milwaukee and Oakland both lead their respective divisions, and Seattle is the #2 Wild Card team right now.  The Bucs remain 3.5 Games Behind the Brewers heading into action tonight.