This is all the work of Joseph P. at River Ave. Blues. I take no credit for this statistical table.

2009 Payroll

Player Sal.
A-Rod $32
Sabathia $14*
Teixeira $20**
Jeter $20
Burnett $16.5
Mo $15
Jorge $13.1
Damon $13
Matsui $13
Swisher $5.3
Wang $5
Marte $3.75
Nady $6.55
Cano $6
Molina $1
Bruney $1.25
Melky $1.4
Pettitte $5.5
Total $192.35

* $9 million bonus
** $5 million bonus

Depending on how exactly the Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia signing bonuses count against the payroll, that $192.35 million could turn into $206.35 million. That covers 18 of 25 players, leaving seven roster spots to players who will presumably make under $500,000 each. Even factoring in the $500K, that means another $3.5 million, bringing payroll to $209.85, or right in line with 2008.

That would seem to be the Opening Day figure, though the Yankees do owe a bit more money elsewhere. For starters, they need to pay a certain minimum to all players on the 40-man roster, though that’s won’t bump up the value too much. There’s also the million or so owed to Andrew Brackman, and the $4 million owed to Kei Igawa. Plus, if a player hits the Major League disabled list, they’ll call up another player, who will get a prorated portion of the league minimum salary.

We can start to form a better picture of the Yankees salary situation into the future as well.

Yankees Future Payroll w/ Tex

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
A-Rod 32 32 31 29 28 25 21 20 20
Tex 25 20 22.5 22.5 22.5 22.5 22.5 22.5
Sabathia 23 23 23 23** 23** 23** 23**
Burnett 16.5 16.5 16.5 16.5 16.5
Cano 6 9 10 14* 15*
Marte 3.75 4 4 4*
Swish 5.3 6.75 9 10.25*
Jorge 13.1 13.1 13.1
Jeter 20 21
Mo 15 15
Damon 13
Matsui 13
Molina 1
Wang 5
Nady 6.55
Melky 1.4
Burney 1.25
~Total 206.35 160.35 129.1 119.25 105 70.5 66.5 42.5 20

* team option
** can opt out of contract