Competitive Balance Tax Payroll: $207.2M
Adjusted for Inflation: $358.4M
Record: 95-67
Once upon a time, the Angels were a regular in the postseason. And in the 2005 ALDS, Bengie Molina brought the lumber for home runs in Games 1, 2 and 3. In the do-or-die Game 5, however, it was Adam Kennedy playing hero with a two-run triple off Mike Mussina before Francisco ‘K-Rod’ Rodríguez closed out the series.
Top Earner: Alex Rodriguez ($25.2M)
As was the case with the 2007 iteration we just encountered, giving A-Rod a ton of money in 2005 was a pretty good idea for the Yankees—at least during the regular season. This, too, was one of his MVP campaigns, batting .321/.421/.610 with 48 home runs, 130 RBI and 21 stolen bases. (He was a ghost in the ALDS, though, going 2-for-15 with no RBI.)
Biggest Waste of Funds: Kevin Brown ($15.7M)
At 40 years old, Brown was in the final season of a 7-year, $105M deal, as well as the final season of his career. And in 13 appearances, he gave the Yankees a 6.50 ERA, last appearing in a game that July.