Cleveland Guardians reach playoffs despite lowest payroll in MLB

The Cleveland Guardians clinched a postseason spot for the third consecutive season despite having the lowest payroll in MLB at $74.2 million. Conversely, the New York Mets, with the highest payroll at $345.8 million, will not participate in the playoffs. This year, three of the six lowest payroll teams, including the Guardians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Chicago White Sox, made the postseason, challenging the notion that higher spending directly correlates with success. The Milwaukee Brewers, with a payroll ranked 19th, are the only team in the middle-class range to qualify for the playoffs, raising questions about competitive balance in MLB.

• 10:07 AMYahoo Sports — MLB team payrolls from highest to lowest: Money isn't everything in 2026