Baseball's average salary rose 4.4 percent to $4.38 million on Opening Day, according to a study of contract terms by the Associated Press, and the Dodgers topped spending for the third straight season at $233.9 million.
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, at $33 million, is the highest-paid player for the second straight year. Former teammate Zack Greinke, who left to sign with Arizona, is second at $31.8 million, followed by Boston pitcher David Price at $30 million.
There are 38 players making $20 million or more, up from 27 last year, and 125 at $10 million or higher, an increase of two. Just 40 MLB players are at this year's minimum of $507,500, a decrease of six.
Team moves
• The Dodgers will open the season with 10 players on the disabled list after catcher Yasmani Grandal and infielder Howie Kendrick were placed on the 15-day disabled list. Major League Baseball said the total was the most since 2002, the earliest records were readily available.
• The Reds placed four starting pitchers on the disabled list, including Anthony DeSclafani (strained left oblique).
• The Rays officially released James Loney, the team's regular first baseman the past three years.
Sunday highlights
• Chris Archer struck out a Rays Opening Day record of 12 in five innings. That's also the most strikeouts in an opener since Seattle's Felix Hernandez struck out 12 against Oakland on April 2, 2007.
• The Cardinals' Matt Holliday made his first career start at first base after more than 1,663 games in either left field or as a designated hitter.
