The Major League Baseball (MLB) postseason kicks off this Tuesday, October 1, marking the beginning of the most exciting time of the year for sports fans.
After a grueling 162-game season, everything culminates in the playoffs, where only a few spots remain up for grabs as teams aim to secure their place in the postseason.
Teams Qualified for the Playoffs
In the current MLB playoff format, the postseason includes the three division champions and three wildcard teams from each league.
In the American League, the New York Yankees, Cleveland Guardians, and Houston Astros have secured division titles, while the Baltimore Orioles have clinched a wildcard spot. The final spot was claimed by the Kansas City Royals this last sunday.
In the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, and Milwaukee Brewers have been crowned division champions, while the San Diego Padres have already secured a wildcard position and the New York Mets the last wildcard position this past sunday.
How much will players earn per round in the MLB Playoffs?
The current system ensures players have a lucrative postseason ahead, with earnings increasing the further they advance in the playoffs.
The player’s pool is funded by a percentage of the ticket revenue from various playoff stages: 50% from Wild Card Game revenue, 60% from the first three games of the Divisional Series, 60% from the first four games of the League Championship Series, and 60% from the first four games of the World Series.
With more than 40 playoff games to determine the World Series champion, the winning team could secure up to $107 million in total earnings.
This means that players who win the 2024 MLB Championship could take home over $250,000 each, not including additional bonuses for postseason awards like Series MVP or individual playoff performance bonuses.
But beyond the financial rewards, the ultimate prize is the glory and immortality of becoming a World Series champion.
How much money will players earn in the Wild Card Series?
It’s difficult to calculate exactly how much extra payment the players participating in this year’s Wild Card Series will receive; it will depend on the earnings generated in each game. 50 percent of the profits will be directed entirely to player payments, and it’s likely that the winning team will take home a bit more of that, in addition to their ticket to the Divisional Round.
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