Thursday means it’s time to see how your GM is wasting your ticket and television dollars. Let’s assume that the Yankees will be at the bottom every week — but they at least have a shot at the championship. Not so the Royals. Not only are they one of the cheapest teams in the league, they also have the least wins, a double whammy that has them in second to last in the Cost Index.
** all $ are in millions.
| Team | 2006 Payroll | GP | Wins | YTD Payroll |
Cost/Win | |
| Marlins | $15.0 | 14 | 4 | $1.30 | $0.32 | |
| Devil Rays | $35.4 | 15 | 7 | $3.28 | $0.47 | |
| Rockies | $41.1 | 15 | 8 | $3.81 | $0.48 | |
| Indians | $56.8 | 15 | 9 | $5.26 | $0.58 | |
| Reds | $59.5 | 15 | 9 | $5.51 | $0.61 | |
| Brewers | $56.8 | 15 | 8 | $5.26 | $0.66 | |
| D’backs | $59.2 | 15 | 7 | $5.48 | $0.78 | |
| Twins | $63.8 | 14 | 7 | $5.51 | $0.79 | |
| Orioles | $72.6 | 16 | 9 | $7.17 | $0.80 | |
| A’s | $62.3 | 15 | 7 | $5.77 | $0.82 | |
| Pirates | $40.2 | 17 | 5 | $4.22 | $0.84 | |
| Astros | $92.6 | 15 | 10 | $8.57 | $0.86 | |
| Mets | $100.9 | 14 | 10 | $8.72 | $0.87 | |
| Blue Jays | $71.9 | 14 | 7 | $6.21 | $0.89 | |
| Cardinals | $88.4 | 15 | 9 | $8.19 | $0.91 | |
| Cubs | $94.8 | 14 | 9 | $8.20 | $0.91 | |
| White Sox | $102.9 | 15 | 10 | $9.53 | $0.95 | |
| Tigers | $82.3 | 15 | 8 | $7.62 | $0.95 | |
| Giants | $90.9 | 14 | 8 | $7.85 | $0.98 | |
| Padres | $69.7 | 14 | 6 | $6.03 | $1.00 | |
| Rangers | $65.5 | 15 | 6 | $6.06 | $1.01 | |
| Red Sox | $120.1 | 15 | 11 | $11.12 | $1.01 | |
| Braves | $92.5 | 16 | 8 | $9.13 | $1.14 | |
| Nationals | $63.3 | 15 | 5 | $5.86 | $1.17 | |
| Mariners | $88.3 | 16 | 7 | $8.72 | $1.25 | |
| Phillies | $88.3 | 14 | 6 | $7.63 | $1.27 | |
| Angels | $103.6 | 15 | 7 | $9.59 | $1.37 | |
| Dodgers | $99.2 | 16 | 7 | $9.80 | $1.40 | |
| Royals | $47.3 | 14 | 2 | $4.09 | $2.04 | |
| Yankees | $198.7 | 14 | 7 | $17.17 | $2.45 |
