The 913 players on Aug. 31 rosters and disabled lists averaged $3,095,183, the Major League Baseball Players Association said Monday in its annual report, up from $3,014,572 last year when the average topped $3 million for the first time.
The average figures to go up next year, with the minimum salary rising from $414,000 to $480,000 under the new labor contract.
The New York Yankees had the highest average salary for the 13th consecutive season, but at $6.54 million it declined for the second straight year, down from a peak of $7.66 million when they won the World Series in 2009.
Philadelphia was second at $6.44 million, followed by Boston ($5.21 million) and the Los Angeles Angels ($4.58 million).
EX-BOSTON CLUBHOUSE MANAGER ACCUSED
A man who worked as a teenager in the Red Sox clubhouse with big-name players such as Roger Clemens and Wade Boggs said his “dream job” ended abruptly when the clubhouse manager sexually assaulted him.
Charles Crawford and another Massachusetts man are now accusing Donald Fitzpatrick, who died in 2005, of abusing them in the early 1990s. The statute of limitations has expired for filing lawsuits, but the men are seeking $5 million settlements from the team.
During a news conference Monday, Crawford said Fitzpatrick assaulted him twice inside the clubhouse at Fenway Park — once in an equipment room and once in a restroom. He was 16 at the time.
“People need to know what happened,” said Crawford, who agreed to have his name used. “It’s still mind-boggling to me.”
Fitzpatrick had been accused of sexually abusing children earlier. In 2002, he pleaded guilty in Florida to attempted sexual battery on a child under 12. The team also settled a lawsuit with seven Florida men who said Fitzpatrick molested them during spring training beginning in the 1970s.
SEC INVESTIGATING STADIUM FINANCING
The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating the financing of the Miami Marlins’ new downtown stadium.
SEC subpoenas to Miami-Dade County are seeking a long list of documents and records, including those involving meetings between government officials and executives with the Marlins and Major League Baseball.
The executives include baseball commissioner Bud Selig, ex-MLB president Robert DuPuy, Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria and the team’s president, David Samson.
The $634 million retractable-roof stadium, set to open for the 2012 season, has been controversial from the start because more than three-fourths of its costs are being borne by taxpayers.
SHORT HOPS
ESPN announced that former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona will replace Bobby Valentine as an analyst for its Sunday night game telecasts next season. Valentine was recently hired to replace Francona as the Red Sox’s skipper. … The Giants plan to give Buster Posey some time at first base next season.Posey won the 2010 NL Rookie of the Year award as a catcher, but his past season ended in May after he was hurt in a bruising collision at home plate.
