Cleveland Indians were 29th in average MLB player salary in 2010

The average annual salary of a major-league player before rosters expanded in September was $3,014,572 last season. The Indians were way below that at $1,205,210.

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain DealerTravis Hafner was one of three Indians regulars last season -- along with Jhonny Peralta and Fausto Carmona -- who earned more than the big-league average at his position. Hafner's $11.5 million contract was considerably higher than the DH average of $7.43 million.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In a study of average MLB player salaries for last season, the Indians ranked 29th among 30 big-league teams at $1,205,210 per player. The Indians, according to the Associated Press, dropped from $2,007,420 in 2009.

The Pirates were the only team with a lower average salary at $1,140,598. The Indians lost 93 games in 2009 and finished fourth in the AL Central. The Pirates led the big leagues with 105 losses and finished last in the NL Central.

Here is the Indians' average player salary since 2003:

• 2004: $1,220,378;

• 2005: $1,527,704;

• 2006: $1,481,261;

• 2007: $2,535,472;

• 2008: $1,905,804;

• 2009: $2,007,420; and

• 2010: $1,205,210.

The highest payroll over those six years, $2.5 million in 2007, corresponds to the last time they made the postseason.

The players association said Monday that the average salary for the 912 players in the big leagues before rosters were expanded in September surpassed $3 million for the first time. Indians players were paid $1.81 million below the MLB average of $3,014,572.

Yankees players averaged the highest salary at $7,604,937, followed by the Phillies at $5,662,551, Red Sox at $4,821,016, White Sox at $4,580,868 and the Cubs at $4,107,304. The White Sox jumped from 11th to fourth.

Here's the average salary from last season based on position:

• First base: $9.5 million;

• Third base: $8.47 million;

• Designated hitters: $7.43 million;

• Outfield: $4.66 million;

• Shortstop: $4.59 million;

• Starting pitchers: $4.58 million;

• Second base: $4.9 million;

• Catcher: $4.79 million; and

• Relief pitcher: $2.11 million.

Here's how the Indians regulars (based on number of games played, starts and appearances) compared to those figures:

• First baseman Matt LaPorta: $402,700;

• Third baseman Jhonny Peralta: $4.85 million;

• DH Travis Hafner: $11.5 million;

• Outfielder Shin-Soo Choo: $466,100;

• Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera: $444,600;

• Starting pitcher Fausto Carmona: $5.087 million;

• Second baseman Luis Valbuena: $414,700;

• Catcher Lou Marson: $401,200; and

• Reliever Rafael Perez: $795,000.

Finally: Dave Hudgens, the Indians' minor-league field coordinator, is the Mets' new hitting coach. Hudgens has yet to be replaced by the Tribe.

Hudgens, who spent the last five years with the Indians, is the third minor-league staff member to be leave for a big-league coaching job. Arizona hired Charles Nagy as pitching coach and Oakland hired Joel Skinner as bench coach.