The Opening Day payroll for the Colorado Rockies in 2017 is nearly $128 million, according to a report released by Forbes. The payroll—which is $127,943,571, to be exact—represents a 13% increase over last year’s payroll ($113,244,571) is the 16th highest payroll in Major League Baseball. The league is awash in money, with total 2017 payroll topping $4 billion across all 30 teams.
It should come at no surprise that the Los Angeles Dodgers $225 million payroll is the highest in the league, even though that represents nearly a 4% decrease from 2016. The Rockies’ Opening Day opponent, the Milwaukee Brewers, have the lowest payroll in the league in 2017 at $60,810,090—less than half of the Rockies’ payroll.
Early this offseason, Rockies owner Dick Monfort promised the team would be increasing payroll 2017 and he has clearly made good on that promise. This offseason the team spent over $100 million total to sign free agents Ian Desmond (who will make $8 million in 2017), Mike Dunn ($4 million in 2017), and Greg Holland ($7 millon in 2017, plus incentives).
The 13% increase in payroll from last year is the seventh largest payroll increase in MLB and makes the Rockies one of only 10 teams with a double-digit increase. The Marlins (+60%) had the largest increase while the Padres (-40%) had the largest decrease.
You can view all of the Rockies’ salary commitments at Cot’s Baseball Contracts.
Colorado Rockies Opening Day Payroll
| COLORADO | MLS thru '16 season | Updated 4/17 | salary + p-r bonus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COLORADO | MLS thru '16 season | Updated 4/17 | salary + p-r bonus | |
| Pos'n | ML Srv | Length / Total Value | 2017 | |
| Gonzalez, Carlos | rf | 8.059 | 7 yr/$80M (11-17) | $20,428,571 |
| Arenado, Nolan | 3b | 3.155 | 2 yr/$29.5M (17-18) | $11,750,000 |
| Desmond, Ian | 1b-of | 7.027 | 5 yr/$70M (17-21)+22 cl opt | $8,000,000 |
| Parra, Gerardo | lf | 7.145 | 3 yr/$27.5M (16-19)+20 opt | $8,000,000 |
| Blackmon, Charlie | cf | 4.102 | 1 yr/$7.3M (17) | $7,300,000 |
| Holland, Greg | rhp-c | 5.028 | 1 yr/$7M (17)+18 v opt | $6,000,000 |
| McGee, Jake | lhp | 5.127 | 1 yr/$5.9M (17) | $5,900,000 |
| LeMahieu, D.J. | 2b | 4.128 | 2 yr/$7.8M (16-17) | $4,800,000 |
| Chatwood, Tyler | rhp-s | 5.039 | 1 yr/$4.4M (17) | $4,400,000 |
| Dunn, Michael | lhp | 6.079 | 3 yr/$19M (17-19)+20 opt | $4,000,000 |
| Qualls, Chad | rhp | 12.058 | 2 yr/$6M (16-17) | $3,750,000 |
| Lyles, Jordan | rhp | 5.021 | 1 yr/$3.175M (17) | $3,175,000 |
| Ottavino, Adam | rhp | 5.087 | 3 yr/$10.4M (16-18) | $2,100,000 |
| Reynolds, Mark | 1b | 9.138 | 1 yr/$1.5M (17) | $1,500,000 |
| Amarista, Alexi | 2b-ss | 5.040 | 1 yr/$1.25M (17)+18 cl opt | $1,100,000 |
| Bettis, Chad | rhp-s | 2.096 | 1 yr/$0.545M (17) | $545,000 |
| Rusin, Chris | lhp-s | 2.092 | 1 yr/$0.545M (17) | $545,000 |
| Adames, Cristhian | ss | 1.052 | 1 yr (17) | $540,000 |
| Anderson, Tyler | lhp-s | 1.065 | 1 yr (17) | $540,000 |
| Diaz, Jairo | rhp | 1.064 | 1 yr/$0.54M (17) | $540,000 |
| Gray, Jon | rhp-s | 1.062 | 1 yr/$0.54M (17) | $540,000 |
| Oberg, Scott | rhp | 1.081 | 1 yr/$0.54M (17) | $540,000 |
| Story, Trevor | ss | 1.000 | 1 yr (17) | $540,000 |
| Wolters, Tony | c | 1.000 | 1 yr (17) | $540,000 |
| Dahl, David | lf | 0.070 | 1 yr/$0.537M (17) | $537,000 |
| Estevez, Carlos | rhp | 0.162 | 1 yr (17) | $537,000 |
| Garneau, Dustin | c | 0.124 | 1 yr (17) | $537,000 |
| Marquez, German | rhp | 0.027 | 1 yr (17) | $537,000 |
| Murphy, Tom | c | 0.055 | 1 yr/$0.537M (17) | $537,000 |
| Cardullo, Stephen | ss-of | 0.038 | 1 yr (17) | $535,000 |
| Freeland, Kyle | lhp-s | 0.000 | 1 yr (17) | $535,000 |
| Senzatela, Antonio | rhp-s | 0.000 | 1 yr (17) | $535,000 |
| Almonte, Yency | rhp | 0.000 | 1 yr (17) | |
| Carle, Shane | rhp | 0.000 | 1 yr (17) | |
| Gonzalez, Rayan | rhp | 0.000 | 1 yr/$0.535M (17) | |
| Hoffman, Jeff | rhp | 0.044 | 1 yr (17) | |
| Jemiola, Zach | rhp | 0.000 | 1 yr (17) | |
| Moll, Sam | lhp | 0.000 | 1 yr (17) | |
| Patterson, Jordan | rf | 0.027 | 1 yr (17) | |
| Tapia, Raimel | of | 0.031 | 1 yr (17) | |
| Valaika, Pat | ss | 0.027 | 1 yr (17) | |
| Motte, Jason | DFA 3/17 | $5,000,000 | ||
| Reyes, Jose | $21,465,000 | |||
| TOTAL - COL | $127,828,571 |