Tight with a buck

The Oakland A’s didn’t have a great season, but they did make every dollar count

The Oakland Athletics endured another miserable season in 2024. They finished below .500 — below .430, actually — for the third straight year. And they suffered more than 90 defeats — 93, to be specific — for the third time in a row.

At least they spent their money wisely.

The A’s had the smallest payroll in Major League Baseball in 2024, $55.69 million, according to Baseball Reference. Yet they won more games (69) than four clubs that outspent them: the Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Angels, and Miami Marlins.

That counts for something, I guess.

If we divide Oakland’s payroll by its victory total, we see that the A’s spent $807,100 per win this year. That was the lowest ratio — and hence the most efficient performance — in the majors.

Rounding out the top five in the efficiency standings are four clubs from small and medium markets: the Cleveland Guardians, Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers, and Milwaukee Brewers. All but the Pirates made the playoffs.

The least efficient team in 2024 was the defending champions from 2023, the Texas Rangers. They spent $3,352,200 for each of their 78 regular-season wins.

Four other clubs posted ratios above $3 million: the White Sox, Houston Astros, New York Yankees, and Toronto Blue Jays. You’ll find the full standings below.

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Payroll efficiency rankings 2024

• 1. Oakland Athletics, $807,100 per win (payroll of $55,690,000 and 69 wins)

• 2. Cleveland Guardians, $1,024,200 per win (payroll of $94,230,728 and 92 wins)

• 3. Pittsburgh Pirates, $1,121,400 per win (payroll of $85,226,500 and 76 wins)

• 4. Detroit Tigers, $1,227,700 per win (payroll of $105,584,833 and 86 wins)

• 5. Milwaukee Brewers, $1,238,100 per win (payroll of $115,142,460 and 93 wins)

• 6. Cincinnati Reds, $1,276,900 per win (payroll of $98,323,334 and 77 wins)

• 7. Baltimore Orioles, $1,289,500 per win (payroll of $117,347,715 and 91 wins)

• 8. Kansas City Royals, $1,426,700 per win (payroll of $122,692,261 and 86 wins)

• 9. Seattle Mariners, $1,553,500 per win (payroll of $132,047,548 and 85 wins)

• 10. Minnesota Twins, $1,655,600 per win (payroll of $135,762,591 and 82 wins)

• 11. San Diego Padres, $1,713,900 per win (payroll of $159,391,555 and 93 wins)

• 12. Tampa Bay Rays, $1,731,700 per win (payroll of $138,533,112 and 80 wins)

• 13. Miami Marlins, $1,774,100 per win (payroll of $109,992,600 and 62 wins)

• 14. Arizona Diamondbacks, $1,816,400 per win (payroll of $161,660,152 and 89 wins)

• 15. Washington Nationals, $1,860,400 per win (payroll of $132,086,867 and 71 wins)

• 16. Boston Red Sox, $1,985,600 per win (payroll of $160,834,775 and 81 wins)

• 17. St. Louis Cardinals, $2,283,500 per win (payroll of $189,534,400 and 83 wins)

• 18. Colorado Rockies, $2,411,000 per win (payroll of $147,069,963 and 61 wins)

• 19. Philadelphia Phillies, $2,617,200 per win (payroll of $248,632,283 and 95 wins)

• 20. Los Angeles Angels, $2,660,900 per win (payroll of $167,637,049 and 63 wins)

• 21. Los Angeles Dodgers, $2,677,400 per win (payroll of $262,386,278 and 98 wins)

• 22. Chicago Cubs, $2,687,300 per win (payroll of $223,048,500 and 83 wins)

• 23. San Francisco Giants, $2,904,600 per win (payroll of $232,370,883 and 80 wins)

• 24. Atlanta Braves, $2,931,600 per win (payroll of $260,912,300 and 89 wins)

• 25. New York Mets, $2,951,700 per win (payroll of $262,702,250 and 89 wins)

• 26. Toronto Blue Jays, $3,049,000 per win (payroll of $225,628,287 and 74 wins)

• 27. New York Yankees, $3,100,700 per win (payroll of $291,463,084 and 94 wins)

• 28. Houston Astros, $3,132,700 per win (payroll of $275,678,766 and 88 wins)

• 29. Chicago White Sox, $3,174,900 per win (payroll of $130,170,125 and 41 wins)

• 30. Texas Rangers, $3,352,200 per win (payroll of $261,471,834 and 78 wins)