The Los Angeles Dodgers set a baseball record with a $US270 million ($A353.29 million) opening-day payroll, including nearly $US44 million ($A57.57 million) going to players no longer on the team.
Major League Baseball's average salary on Sunday's opening day also set a new mark at $US4.2 million ($A5.50 million), according to calculations by The Associated Press.
That is up 6.3 per cent from last year's opening average of $US3.95 million ($A5.17 million) and is a 15 per cent rise over two years.
Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels says "it's a shocking number for the average family to think about."
The Dodgers' payroll includes $US43.8 million ($A57.31 million) for 2015 to cover the costs of players traded and let go.
At the bottom are Houston - $US69.1 million ($A90.42 million) and Miami - $US69.2 million ($A90.55 million).
A record 508 players earn $1 million or more.
