Led by the Yankees, salaries on the rise for the 2005 season

NEW YORK — Baseball’s big-money boom pushed the average salary to a record $2.6 million on opening day, and the New York Yankee’ payroll of just less than $200 million topped five teams combined.

Following a rare drop from 2003 to 2004, the average climbed 5.9 percent to $2.63 million, according to an AP study. Three Yankees were among the top five in salary. New York is spending more than the combined of Tampa Bay ($29.9 million), Kansas City ($36.9 million), Pittsburgh ($38.1 million), Milwaukee ($40.2 million) and Cleveland ($41.8 million).

While the NFL and NBA have salary caps, baseball does not. The current labor contract expires after the 2006 season.

The World Series champion Boston Red Sox were second to the Yankees, with their players adding to $121.3 million. The New York Mets were next at $104.8 million, followed by Philadelphia ($95.3 million) and the Los Angeles Angels ($95 million).

While the Yankees have had the top payroll each year since 1999, they haven’t won the World Series since 2000. Boston was second last year when it won its first World Series title since 1918. The 2003 champion Florida Marlins were 20th and the 2002 champion Angels were 16th.