One of the three teams left standing in the 2026 Major League Baseball season, the Cleveland Guardians have the game's smallest payroll at $74.2 million.

Ranking 30th out of MLB's 30 teams in payroll, the Guardians are in the postseason for the third year in a row and making a second trip to the American League Championship Series in three years. In this ALCS, they're facing the Tampa Bay Rays – whose $98.3 million is 25th.

The winner of this series will face the Milwaukee Brewers (No. 19) in the World Series beginning on Friday, Oct 23. Milwaukee dispatched the Los Angeles Dodgers – whose $338 million payroll is more than the other three semifinalists combined – in the NL Championship Series.

The payroll figures obtained by USA TODAY Sports are the MLB Labor Relations Department's present-day salary calculation. The LRD numbers include the player’s actual salary plus his pro-rated signing bonus options – and the Dodgers' heavy use of deferrals and bonuses is why the New York Mets have the highest payroll according to these metrics.

MLB payrolls 2026

1. New York Mets: $346.8 million (out of the playoffs)

2. Los Angeles Dodgers: $338.0 million (In the playoffs)

3. New York Yankees: $304.6 million: In.

4. Philadelphia Phillies: $291.7 million: In.

5. Toronto Blue Jays: $275.4 million: Out.

6. Atlanta: $263.9 million: In.

7. Houston Astros: $249.5 million: In.

8. Chicago Cubs: $248.8 million: In

9. San Diego Padres: $223.9 million: In.

10. Boston Red Sox: $210.2 million: In

11. Detroit Tigers: $202.1 million: Out

12. San Francisco Giants: $197.6 million: Out.

13. Arizona Diamondbacks: $192.8 million: Out.

14. Texas Rangers: $192.5 million: Out.

15. Los Angeles Angels: $179.8 million: Out.

16. Seattle Mariners: $170.5 million: Out.

17. Baltimore Orioles: $169.2 million: Out

18. Kansas City Royals: $149.8 million: Out.

19. Milwaukee Brewers: $143.5 million: In.

20. Cincinnati Reds: $128.3 million: Out

21. Colorado Rockies: $117.0 million: Out

22. Minnesota Twins: $109.5 million: Out

23. Pittsburgh Pirates: $107.6 million: Out.

24. Athletics: $98.7 million: Out

25. Tampa Bay Rays: $98.3 million. In

26. Chicago White Sox: $98.0 million: In

27. St. Louis Cardinals: $94.7 million: Out.

28. Washington Nationals: $90.3 million: Out.

29. Miami Marlins: $83.0 million: Out.

30. Cleveland Guardians: $74.2 million: In.