Earlier in the week I reported that gross revenues for MLB in 2018 were $10.3 billion. Fans and the media have focused on a decline in spending at just the Major League level, and that too saw a significant decline. The percentage of revenue that Major League players have garnered as compensation compared to revenues has fluctuated between 48% and 52% for the last 15 years. In terms of the percentage that MLB has doled out in player salaries compared to other leagues, the amount paid out, that includes benefits, etc. In 2011, it was reported that nine of the 30 clubs in Major League Baseball were in violation of the league’s debt rule.

Source: Forbes January 11, 2019 12:00 UTC