Major League Baseball players appear to be losing money despite the likely massive paydays on the horizon for free-agent superstars Bryce Harper and Manny Machado.
The league reportedly set record revenues in 2018, though the amount allocated toward player salaries suffered the biggest year-to-year drop since 2012 with a six percent decrease, according to Maury Brown of Forbes.
Teams spent the second-lowest percentage (54.2) of revenue since 2010 on player salaries, Brown notes, citing industry sources. That number also reportedly includes minor-league wages.
There was a four percent drop in big-league spending for the on-field product in 2018 compared to 2017, which is equivalent to over $115 million.
Only 84 of 218 free agents have signed contracts so far this offseason.
