So, aware of the fact that bench and bullpen additions may still be on the way, what does the Nationals’ payroll say about them heading into 2017? The Orioles’ projected payroll stands at $154 million, a few million above the Nationals’ Opening Day mark. Last year was the first since the Nationals’ playoff run began in 2012 that the Orioles had the higher Opening Day payroll. After they signed Max Scherzer to create the super-rotation that wasn’t, the Opening Day payroll sat at $162 million. The Nationals’ average Opening Day payroll from 2014 to 2016 was $148.2 million.

Source: Washington Post January 16, 2017 19:35 UTC