Baseball Salaries Soar

The average baseball salary increased 19.3 percent to a record $1,336,609 last season and the New York Yankees were No. 1 for the fourth straight year, setting a high at $2,303,437.

In the annual study released by the players’ association, the top four teams in 1996 maintained their positions. Baltimore was second at $2,205,890, followed by Cleveland at $1,912,062 and Atlanta at $1,817,543.

The World Series champion Florida Marlins had the biggest increase, doubling from $842,729 to $1,793,766 and rising from 19th place to fifth. But the Marlins have traded Moises Alou, Devon White, Robb Nen and Jeff Conine since winning the World Series.

Seattle was tenth at $1,484,311.

Vinny Castilla, who had been eligible for free agency following the 1998 season, has agreed to a $24 million, four-year contract with the Colorado Rockies.

The Seattle Mariners have signed free-agent infielder Aaron Holbert, a first-round pick of St. Louis in the 1990 player draft.

The Milwaukee Brewers are preparing to make a contract offer to free-agent center fielder Kenny Lofton, said the team’s general manager.

Lofton and his agent, Steve Zucker, visited Milwaukee last Tuesday and met with Brewers owner Bud Selig and general manager Sal Bando. Bando said he plans to sit down and run contract figures by Selig before making a formal offer.