Today is my 62nd birthday - so last evening I crunched a few more numbers to complete my latest review of current MLB rosters. It’s what I do 🥴🤓.
So - a look at how each American League team’s 40 man roster is presently constructed. Here’s a link to the National League data if ya missed it from before - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/12-27-21-national-league-current-40-man-roster-makeups
Major League totals are also shown below. ( Salary projections from Spotrac ) - an explanation of how I grouped things - free agents are those signed to either major or minor league contracts, drafted are those selected directly by the team and still on the roster, international signings are those signed directly from their countries whether as amateurs or from international pro leagues. Waiver claims include rule 5 draftees for this exercise.
Akin to the National League the American League data shows the vast majority of the current 2022 AL rosters are players making the major league minimum salary ( 65 % for AL - 61 % for NL ) while the mega stars making over $20 million per season represent just 3 % of the AL roster population. The Guardians lead the way with the most league minimum players ( 33 of their current 40 spots ) followed by the Orioles and Rangers ( 31 each ) - the Yankees have the lowest percentage at the minimum ( 15 players - 38 % ), they also have the most higher priced players.
Also reflected is that trades account for the majority of the AL rosters ( 35 % ) followed by draftees who have remained with their draft team ( 33 % ). 57 % of the Rays roster was traded for followed by the Mariners at 50 %. The Twins and Royals have the most self drafted players on their roster ( 20 ) with the Guardians following at 17, the White Sox are next with 16.
The Major League cumulative data reflects that 63 % of the league is presently slated to make league minimum with 3 % of the players making a salary over $ 20 million for the 2022 season. 44 % of the league rosters have been built via direct draft choices and international signings - 34 % of the league rosters have been built via trades and 16 % via free agency.
In regards to “internal” team building ( direct draft & international signings ) the Royals lead the way with 26 players followed by the Astros & Twins ( 25 each ), the Guardians and Rockies ( 24 each ) and the Phillies, Reds and Jays ( 21 each ). At the other end of the spectrum the Mariners have the fewest “internal” players ( 9 ) with the Diamondbacks and Marlins at 10 apiece, the Pirates at 12 and the Brewers and Padres at 13 each.
Note that of the 38 players estimated to make a 2022 salary of more than $ 20 million only six ( Trout, Altuve, deGrom, Strasburg, Votto, Blackmon ) are doing so with the organization that originally signed them from the amateur ranks.
All data tallies were done by me accumulating information from MLB roster lists and player drill downs along with Spotrac for the salary estimates.
Here’s the detail of the results :
American League Totals - 15 teams :
Current Roster Number - 580 of 600 spots filled
Pitchers - 323 ( 56 % )
Catchers - 43 ( 7 % )
Infielders - 122 ( 21 % )
Outfielders - 92 ( 16 % )
Free Agent Signings - 73 ( 13 % )
Drafted - 192 ( 33 % )
International Signings - 81 ( 14 % )
Traded For - 204 ( 35 % )
Waiver Claims - 30 ( 5 % )
2022 Projected Players Salaries for the 2022 season :
Making more than $ 20 million : 16 ( 3 % )
Making between $ 10 & $ 20 million : 33 ( 6 % )
Making between $ 5 & $ 10 million : 55 ( 9 % )
Making between $ 1 & $ 5 million : 89 (15 % )
Making more than minimum but less than $ 1 million : 11 ( 2 % )
Making League Minimum : 376 ( 65 % )
Major League Totals - 30 teams :
Current Roster Number - 1,161 of 1,200 spots filled
Pitchers - 646 ( 56 % )
Catchers - 87 ( 8 % )
Infielders - 238 ( 20 % )
Outfielders - 190 ( 16 % )
Free Agent Signings - 181 ( 16 % )
Drafted - 363 ( 31 % )
International Signings - 152 ( 13 % )
Traded For - 392 ( 34 % )
Waiver Claims - 73 ( 6 % )
2022 Projected Players Salaries for the 2022 season :
Making more than $ 20 million : 38 ( 3 % )
Making between $ 10 & $ 20 million : 68 ( 6 % )
Making between $ 5 & $ 10 million : 111 ( 10 % )
Making between $ 1 & $ 5 million : 191 ( 16 % )
Making more than minimum but less than $ 1 million : 23 ( 2 % )
Making League Minimum - 730 ( 63 % )
Here’s a breakdown of the data by American League team :
Rays :
Current Roster Number - 40
Pitchers - 23
Catchers - 4
Infielders - 6
Outfielders - 7
Free Agent Signings - 2
Drafted - 9
International Signings - 5
Traded For - 23
Waiver Claims - 1
2022 Projected Players Salaries :
Making more than $ 20 million : 0
Making between $ 10 & $ 20 million : 1 ( Kiermayer )
Making between $ 5 & $ 10 million : 3
Making between $ 1 & $ 5 million : 13
Making more than minimum but less than $ 1 million : 1
Making League Minimum : 22
Yankees :
Current Roster Number - 39
Pitchers - 24
Catchers - 2
Infielders - 6
Outfielders - 7
Free Agent Signings - 8
Drafted - 5
International Signings - 11
Traded For - 15
Waiver Claims - 0
2022 Projected Players Salaries :
Making more than $ 20 million : 2 ( Cole, Stanton )
Making between $ 10 & $ 20 million : 6 ( Judge, Chapman, LeMahieu, Britton, Severino, Hicks )
Making between $ 5 & $ 10 million : 5
Making between $ 1 & $ 5 million : 10
Making more than minimum but less than $ 1 million : 1
Making League Minimum : 15
Red Sox :
Current Roster Number - 39
Pitchers - 22
Catchers - 4
Infielders - 7
Outfielders - 6
Free Agent Signings - 7
Drafted - 8
International Signings - 7
Traded For - 13
Waiver Claims - 4
2022 Projected Players Salaries :
Making more than $ 20 million : 1 ( Sale )
Making between $ 10 & $ 20 million : 4 ( Bogaerts, Martinez, Devers, Eovaldi )
Making between $ 5 & $ 10 million : 6
Making between $ 1 & $ 5 million : 6
Making more than minimum but less than $ 1 million : 0
Making League Minimum : 22
Blue Jays :
Current Roster Number - 38
Pitchers - 22
Catchers - 4
Infielders - 7
Outfielders - 5
Free Agent Signings - 3
Drafted - 15
International Signings - 6
Traded For - 13
Waiver Claims - 1
2022 Projected Players Salaries :
Making more than $ 20 million : 2 ( Springer, Gausman )
Making between $ 10 & $ 20 million : 3 ( Ryu, Berrios, Grichuk )
Making between $ 5 & $ 10 million : 2
Making between $ 1 & $ 5 million : 8
Making more than minimum but less than $ 1 million : 2
Making League Minimum : 21
Orioles :
Current Roster Number - 38
Pitchers - 22
Catchers - 0 🥴
Infielders - 8
Outfielders - 8
Free Agent Signings - 2
Drafted - 13
International Signings - 2
Traded For - 14
Waiver Claims - 7
2022 Projected Players Salaries :
Making more than $ 20 million : 0
Making between $ 10 & $ 20 million : 0
Making between $ 5 & $ 10 million : 2
Making between $ 1 & $ 5 million : 4
Making more than minimum but less than $ 1 million : 1
Making League Minimum : 31
White Sox :
Current Roster Number - 37
Pitchers - 19
Catchers - 3
Infielders - 8
Outfielders - 7
Free Agent Signings - 7
Drafted - 16
International Signings - 3
Traded For - 10
Waiver Claims - 1
2022 Projected Players Salaries :
Making more than $ 20 million : 0
Making between $ 10 & $ 20 million : 7 ( Abreu, Lynn, Grandal, Keuchel, Kimbrel, Moncado, Hendriks )
Making between $ 5 & $ 10 million : 6
Making between $ 1 & $ 5 million : 3
Making more than minimum but less than $ 1 million : 0
Making League Minimum : 21
Tigers :
Current Roster Number - 38
Pitchers - 20
Catchers - 4
Infielders - 9
Outfielders - 5
Free Agent Signings - 8
Drafted - 11
International Signings - 3
Traded For - 14
Waiver Claims - 2
2022 Projected Players Salaries :
Making more than $ 20 million : 1 ( Cabrera )
Making between $ 10 & $ 20 million : 2 ( Baez, Rodriquez )
Making between $ 5 & $ 10 million : 4
Making between $ 1 & $ 5 million : 5
Making more than minimum but less than $ 1 million : 0
Making League Minimum : 26
Guardians :
Current Roster Number - 40
Pitchers - 17
Catchers - 2
Infielders - 14
Outfielders - 7
Free Agent Signings - 1
Drafted - 17
International Signings - 7
Traded For - 14
Waiver Claims - 1
2022 Projected Players Salaries :
Making more than $ 20 million : 0
Making between $ 10 & $ 20 million : 1 ( Ramirez )
Making between $ 5 & $ 10 million : 0
Making between $ 1 & $ 5 million : 6
Making more than minimum but less than $ 1 million : 0
Making League Minimum : 33
Twins :
Current Roster Number - 38
Pitchers - 22
Catchers - 3
Infielders - 7
Outfielders - 6
Free Agent Signings - 4
Drafted - 20
International Signings - 5
Traded For - 7
Waiver Claims - 2
2022 Projected Players Salaries :
Making more than $ 20 million : 1 ( Donaldson )
Making between $ 10 & $ 20 million : 0
Making between $ 5 & $ 10 million : 5
Making between $ 1 & $ 5 million : 5
Making more than minimum but less than $ 1 million : 2
Making League Minimum : 25
Royals :
Current Roster Number - 40
Pitchers - 23
Catchers - 4
Infielders - 9
Outfielders - 4
Free Agent Signings - 4
Drafted - 20
International Signings - 6
Traded For - 10
Waiver Claims - 0
2022 Projected Players Salaries :
Making more than $ 20 million : 0
Making between $ 10 & $ 20 million : 2 ( Perez, Santana )
Making between $ 5 & $ 10 million : 3
Making between $ 1 & $ 5 million : 5
Making more than minimum but less than $ 1 million : 2
Making League Minimum : 28
Angels :
Current Roster Number - 40
Pitchers - 24
Catchers - 2
Infielders - 9
Outfielders - 5
Free Agent Signings - 6
Drafted - 15
International Signings - 4
Traded For - 9
Waiver Claims - 6
2022 Projected Players Salaries :
Making more than $ 20 million : 4 ( Trout, Rendon, Upton, Syndergaard )
Making between $ 10 & $ 20 million : 1 ( Iglesias )
Making between $ 5 & $ 10 million : 3
Making between $ 1 & $ 5 million : 3
Making more than minimum but less than $ 1 million : 0
Making League Minimum : 29
Athletics :
Current Roster Number - 34
Pitchers - 18
Catchers - 2
Infielders - 8
Outfielders - 6
Free Agent Signings - 2
Drafted - 11
International Signings - 5
Traded For - 16
Waiver Claims - 0
2022 Projected Players Salaries :
Making more than $ 20 million : 0
Making between $ 10 & $ 20 million : 2 ( Olson, Manaea )
Making between $ 5 & $ 10 million : 5
Making between $ 1 & $ 5 million : 3
Making more than minimum but less than $ 1 million : 1
Making League Minimum : 23
Mariners :
Current Roster Number - 40
Pitchers - 21
Catchers - 4
Infielders - 8
Outfielders - 7
Free Agent Signings - 7
Drafted - 8
International Signings - 1
Traded For - 20
Waiver Claims - 4
2022 Projected Players Salaries :
Making more than $ 20 million : 1 ( Ray )
Making between $ 10 & $ 20 million : 0
Making between $ 5 & $ 10 million : 4
Making between $ 1 & $ 5 million : 9
Making more than minimum but less than $ 1 million : 0
Making League Minimum : 26
Astros :
Current Roster Number - 40
Pitchers - 25
Catchers - 2
Infielders - 7
Outfielders - 6
Free Agent Signings - 6
Drafted - 15
International Signings - 10
Traded For - 8
Waiver Claims - 1
2022 Projected Players Salaries :
Making more than $ 20 million : 2 ( Altuve, Verlander )
Making between $ 10 & $ 20 million : 3 ( Brantley, McCullers, Bregman )
Making between $ 5 & $ 10 million : 5
Making between $ 1 & $ 5 million : 6
Making more than minimum but less than $ 1 million : 1
Making League Minimum : 23
Rangers :
Current Roster Number - 39
Pitchers - 21
Catchers - 3
Infielders - 9
Outfielders - 6
Free Agent Signings - 6
Drafted - 9
International Signings - 6
Traded For - 18
Waiver Claims - 0
2022 Projected Players Salaries :
Making more than $ 20 million : 2 ( Seager, Semien )
Making between $ 10 & $ 20 million : 1 ( Gray )
Making between $ 5 & $ 10 million : 2
Making between $ 1 & $ 5 million : 3
Making more than minimum but less than $ 1 million : 0
Making League Minimum : 31
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️ and Happy Birthday to Odubel - we share a birthday date - different year of course 🤓.
