| The discrepancy in spending amongst Major | | | | Tampa Bay is the other team in that loaded |
| League Baseball teams is startling. According to | | | | division. It has yet to make the playoffs in its |
| USA TODAY, the top spending team in 2007 | | | | existence. Heck, it has not even managed to win |
| spent nearly 8 times as much as the most frugal. | | | | more than 70 games in a season. Its attendance |
| There are a number of inferences that could be | | | | total in 2007 was next to last. Its salary total in |
| drawn from that. One is that the luxury tax is | | | | 2007 was last. However, everything is starting to |
| really not a deterrent at all. Teams are going to | | | | turn around for that team as they are playing |
| spend what they want to, whether it is seemingly | | | | competitive baseball and stand strong in the AL |
| excessive or seemingly underwhelming. But given | | | | East with a 32-22 record. This is not the same |
| the resurgent proclivity for the sport, with four | | | | Ray's team that the baseball world has known |
| straight years of attendance records being | | | | since their team existence. |
| shattered, it can be inferred that fans do not care | | | | Payroll is not a direct measure of success, |
| either. | | | | naturally, but it certainly does not hurt when it |
| The year 2008 has provided the newest tallies, | | | | comes to recruiting talent. And as such, the gap |
| but 2007 shows some interesting information. | | | | between the haves and have nots in baseball is |
| Namely, it does not pay to be an owner in the | | | | widening every year. It is a wonder that any small |
| American League. 7 of the top 10 payrolls were | | | | market teams can make the playoffs. Until more |
| found on the American side of the ledger. Even | | | | teams start clamoring, MLB is unlikely to do |
| worse of course would be to reside in the AL | | | | anything at all. |
| East where the number 1,2,10 and 16 teams lay. | | | | |