Attention K-mart shoppers
The MLB Cost Index is one measure of how well your GM did over the course of the offseason and during the season. The Index takes a look at the payrolls for each team and calculates a Cost per Win number. Pretty simple stuff right? But in the wide open world of baseball with no salary cap, it’s the best way we can think of to judge teams on a level (monetary) playing field.
Here’s week 2 of the MLB Cost Index. The Yankees have settled into the bottom slot where they’re likely to stay all year because of their monster payroll. However, they are joined by the Phillies, Giants, and Cubs who are playing well under expectations.
The Marlins and Devil Rays are where they usually are because of dirt cheap payrolls but the surprise here are the Arizona Diamondbacks, leading the NL west and 3rd in the Cost Index with 9 wins, paying $0.46M per win. The Indians and Padres are also relative bargains.
The complete MLB Cost Index after the jump.
| Rank (Pv) | Team | 2006 Payroll | GP | Wins | YTD Payroll | Cost/Win | |
| 1 (1) | Marlins | $30.5 | 11 | 6 | $2.07 | $0.35 | |
| 2 (3) | Devil Rays | $24.1 | 12 | 5 | $1.79 | $0.36 | |
| 3 (4) | D’backs | $52.1 | 13 | 9 | $4.18 | $0.46 | |
| 4 (7) | Indians | $61.7 | 9 | 6 | $3.43 | $0.57 | |
| 5 (2) | Pirates | $38.6 | 10 | 4 | $2.38 | $0.60 | |
| 6 (5) | Padres | $58.2 | 12 | 7 | $4.31 | $0.62 | |
| 7 (8) | Reds | $69.1 | 12 | 7 | $5.12 | $0.73 | |
| 8 (6) | Twins | $71.4 | 12 | 7 | $5.29 | $0.76 | |
| 9 (9) | Braves | $89.5 | 11 | 8 | $6.08 | $0.76 | |
| 10 (10) | Rockies | $54.4 | 12 | 5 | $4.03 | $0.81 | |
| 11 (12) | Brewers | $72.0 | 11 | 6 | $4.89 | $0.81 | |
| 12 (11) | Blue Jays | $79.9 | 12 | 7 | $5.92 | $0.85 | |
| 13 (22) | Nationals | $37.3 | 12 | 3 | $2.76 | $0.92 | |
| 14 (16) | Dodgers | $108.7 | 12 | 8 | $8.05 | $1.01 | |
| 15 (14) | Tigers | $95.2 | 12 | 7 | $7.05 | $1.01 | |
| 16 (21) | Rangers | $68.8 | 12 | 5 | $5.10 | $1.02 | |
| 17 (23) | Cardinals | $90.3 | 11 | 6 | $6.13 | $1.02 | |
| 18 (15) | Mariners | $106.5 | 8 | 5 | $5.26 | $1.05 | |
| 19 (18) | A’s | $79.9 | 13 | 6 | $6.41 | $1.07 | |
| 20 (17) | Mets | $117.9 | 11 | 7 | $8.01 | $1.14 | |
| 21 (25) | Orioles | $95.1 | 12 | 6 | $7.04 | $1.17 | |
| 22 (13) | Angels | $109.3 | 12 | 6 | $8.10 | $1.35 | |
| 23 (28) | Astros | $87.8 | 10 | 4 | $5.42 | $1.35 | |
| 24 (26) | Red Sox | $143.5 | 10 | 6 | $8.86 | $1.48 | |
| 25 (24) | White Sox | $109.7 | 11 | 5 | $7.45 | $1.49 | |
| 26 (20) | Royals | $67.4 | 12 | 3 | $4.99 | $1.66 | |
| 27 (19) | Cubs | $99.9 | 11 | 4 | $6.78 | $1.70 | |
| 28 (30) | Giants | $90.5 | 10 | 3 | $5.59 | $1.86 | |
| 29 (29) | Phillies | $89.4 | 11 | 3 | $6.07 | $2.02 | |
| 30 (27) | Yankees | $195.2 | 11 | 5 | $13.25 | $2.65 | |
