The average player salary for the period from 1980-89 was $332,090.

For 1987, the average player salary is expected to rise by another 15 or 16 percent, to $251,000.

Player salaries were among the first parts of the budget to be cut.

In 1982, the first year of the last television package, the average player salary was $105,000.

In 1976, the last season before baseball got free agency, the average player salary was $51,501.

The minimum player salary is set to increase by $1000 per season until 2013 where it would be $45,000.

He said the high cost of player salaries would be a problem for any buyer.

If you give them tax breaks, the money will just go to higher player salaries.

Just last week, the players' union computed the 2006 average player salary at a record $2.7 million.

Part of the financial trouble was also attributed to the high player salaries.