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.
Not much changed with the Cost Index in the past week. The biggest mover was the Chicago Cubs who jumped from 29th to 20th by virtue of 5 wins in a row. However, their south side rival White Sox dropped down to their 29th spot. The Tigers also made a big jump up in the rankings to 12 but everyone else pretty much stayed the same.
The complete MLB Cost Index after the jump.
| Rank (Pv) | Team | 2006 Payroll | GP | Wins | YTD Payroll | Cost/Win | |
| 1 (1) | Devil Rays | $24.1 | 31 | 14 | $4.61 | $0.33 | |
| 2 (2) | Marlins | $30.5 | 30 | 14 | $5.65 | $0.40 | |
| 3 (3) | Pirates | $38.6 | 30 | 13 | $7.15 | $0.55 | |
| 4 (5) | Indians | $61.7 | 28 | 18 | $10.66 | $0.59 | |
| 5 (4) | D’backs | $52.1 | 33 | 17 | $10.61 | $0.62 | |
| 6 (6) | Padres | $58.2 | 31 | 17 | $11.14 | $0.66 | |
| 7 (7) | Brewers | $72.0 | 31 | 21 | $13.78 | $0.66 | |
| 8 (8) | Nationals | $37.3 | 31 | 9 | $7.14 | $0.79 | |
| 9 (10) | Rockies | $54.4 | 31 | 13 | $10.41 | $0.80 | |
| 10 (9) | Twins | $71.4 | 31 | 16 | $13.66 | $0.85 | |
| 11 (11) | Braves | $89.5 | 30 | 19 | $16.57 | $0.87 | |
| 12 (17) | Tigers | $95.2 | 30 | 19 | $17.63 | $0.93 | |
| 13 (12) | Reds | $69.1 | 31 | 14 | $13.22 | $0.94 | |
| 14 (15) | A’s | $79.9 | 30 | 15 | $14.80 | $0.99 | |
| 15 (14) | Rangers | $68.8 | 31 | 13 | $13.17 | $1.01 | |
| 16 (16) | Giants | $90.5 | 30 | 16 | $16.76 | $1.05 | |
| 17 (18) | Mets | $117.9 | 30 | 19 | $21.83 | $1.15 | |
| 18 (19) | Dodgers | $108.7 | 31 | 18 | $20.80 | $1.16 | |
| 19 (13) | Blue Jays | $79.9 | 31 | 13 | $15.29 | $1.18 | |
| 20 (29) | Cubs | $99.9 | 29 | 15 | $17.88 | $1.19 | |
| 21 (20) | Phillies | $89.4 | 31 | 14 | $17.11 | $1.22 | |
| 22 (26) | Astros | $87.8 | 30 | 13 | $16.26 | $1.25 | |
| 23 (21) | Angels | $109.3 | 32 | 17 | $21.59 | $1.27 | |
| 24 (22) | Orioles | $95.1 | 31 | 14 | $18.20 | $1.30 | |
| 25 (27) | Mariners | $106.5 | 26 | 13 | $17.09 | $1.31 | |
| 26 (28) | Red Sox | $143.5 | 30 | 20 | $26.57 | $1.33 | |
| 27 (25) | Royals | $67.4 | 32 | 10 | $13.31 | $1.33 | |
| 28 (23) | Cardinals | $90.3 | 29 | 12 | $16.16 | $1.35 | |
| 29 (24) | White Sox | $109.7 | 28 | 14 | $18.96 | $1.35 | |
| 30 (30) | Yankees | $195.2 | 29 | 14 | $34.94 | $2.50 |
