Loading…
The Cleveland Indians / Guardians opened the 1985 season paying $6,551,666 to 20 players and closed 2016 at $74,311,900 across 27 players, a 11.3× rise in nominal dollars. The franchise’s biggest recorded single-season salary in this span is Derek Lowe’s $15,000,000 in 2012.
| Year | Players | Payroll | Average | Median | Top paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 20 | $6,551,666 | $327,583 | $275,000 | Andre Thornton ($1.1M) |
| 1986 | 31 | $7,809,500 | $251,919 | $177,500 | Andre Thornton ($1.1M) |
| 1987 | 28 | $8,513,750 | $304,063 | $211,250 | Andre Thornton ($1.1M) |
| 1988 | 22 | $8,936,500 | $406,205 | $305,000 | Andre Thornton ($1.1M) |
| 1989 | 27 | $9,094,500 | $336,833 | $235,000 | Joe Carter ($1.6M) |
| 1990 | 33 | $14,487,000 | $439,000 | $280,000 | Keith Hernandez ($1.8M) |
| 1991 | 30 | $17,635,000 | $587,833 | $172,500 | Tom Candiotti ($2.5M) |
| 1992 | 35 | $9,373,044 | $267,801 | $175,000 | Felix Fermin ($950K) |
| 1993 | 40 | $18,561,000 | $464,025 | $337,500 | Bob Ojeda ($1.7M) |
| 1994 | 35 | $30,490,500 | $871,157 | $400,000 | Dennis Martinez ($4.5M) |
| 1995 | 35 | $37,937,835 | $1,083,938 | $516,666 | Dennis Martinez ($4.5M) |
| 1996 | 31 | $48,107,360 | $1,551,850 | $750,000 | Albert Belle ($5.7M) |
| 1997 | 31 | $56,802,460 | $1,832,337 | $1,220,000 | Matt Williams ($7.2M) |
| 1998 | 33 | $60,800,166 | $1,842,429 | $1,033,333 | Kenny Lofton ($7.5M) |
| 1999 | 38 | $72,978,462 | $1,920,486 | $525,000 | Jim Thome ($8.2M) |
| 2000 | 26 | $75,880,771 | $2,918,491 | $1,608,834 | Jim Thome ($8.2M) |
| 2001 | 30 | $93,152,001 | $3,105,067 | $2,281,250 | Juan Gonzalez ($10M) |
| 2002 | 30 | $78,909,449 | $2,630,315 | $1,650,000 | Jim Thome ($8M) |
| 2003 | 31 | $48,584,834 | $1,567,253 | $330,000 | Ellis Burks ($7.2M) |
| 2004 | 30 | $34,319,300 | $1,143,977 | $325,000 | Matt Lawton ($7.3M) |
| 2005 | 29 | $41,502,500 | $1,431,121 | $500,000 | Kevin Millwood ($7M) |
| 2006 | 25 | $56,031,500 | $2,241,260 | $1,500,000 | Paul Byrd ($7M) |
| 2007 | 29 | $61,673,267 | $2,126,664 | $916,667 | CC Sabathia ($8.8M) |
| 2008 | 26 | $78,970,066 | $3,037,310 | $2,175,000 | CC Sabathia ($11M) |
| 2009 | 27 | $81,579,166 | $3,021,451 | $1,950,000 | Travis Hafner ($11.5M) |
| 2010 | 29 | $61,203,966 | $2,110,482 | $427,500 | Travis Hafner ($11.5M) |
| 2011 | 29 | $48,776,566 | $1,681,951 | $500,000 | Travis Hafner ($13M) |
| 2012 | 29 | $78,430,300 | $2,704,493 | $800,000 | Derek Lowe ($15M) |
| 2013 | 28 | $75,771,800 | $2,706,136 | $875,000 | Nick Swisher ($11M) |
| 2014 | 26 | $82,151,899 | $3,159,688 | $1,216,667 | Nick Swisher ($15M) |
| 2015 | 29 | $87,663,766 | $3,022,888 | $1,550,000 | Nick Swisher ($15M) |
| 2016 | 27 | $74,311,900 | $2,752,293 | $2,000,000 | Carlos Santana ($8.4M) |
| # | Player | Salary | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Derek Lowe | $15,000,000 | 2012 (CLE) |
| 2 | Nick Swisher | $15,000,000 | 2014 (CLE) |
| 3 | Nick Swisher | $15,000,000 | 2015 (CLE) |
| 4 | Michael Bourn | $13,500,000 | 2014 (CLE) |
| 5 | Michael Bourn | $13,500,000 | 2015 (CLE) |
| 6 | Travis Hafner | $13,000,000 | 2011 (CLE) |
| 7 | Travis Hafner | $13,000,000 | 2012 (CLE) |
| 8 | Travis Hafner | $11,500,000 | 2009 (CLE) |
| 9 | Travis Hafner | $11,500,000 | 2010 (CLE) |
| 10 | CC Sabathia | $11,000,000 | 2008 (CLE) |
| 11 | Jake Westbrook | $11,000,000 | 2010 (CLE) |
| 12 | Nick Swisher | $11,000,000 | 2013 (CLE) |
| 13 | Kerry Wood | $10,500,000 | 2010 (CLE) |
| 14 | Juan Gonzalez | $10,000,000 | 2001 (CLE) |
| 15 | Jake Westbrook | $10,000,000 | 2008 (CLE) |
This page aggregates the Lahman database’s real salary rows (1985-2016) for every identity this franchise played under: Cleveland Indians / Guardians. Amounts are nominal US dollars exactly as recorded, with no inflation adjustment, because a deflator is an editorial choice and this archive refuses to invent one. The Lahman Salaries table was last updated for 2016, so nothing here reaches the current season.
The franchise’s heaviest recorded payroll was the 2001 season at $93,152,001 across 30 players.
Salary data: SABR / Lahman baseball database, CC BY-SA 3.0. Aggregated and published by Legends Deck. Nominal dollars; no inflation adjustment.