A'S PAYROLL EXPLAINED: When $15 Million Isn't $15 Million

The A’s payroll isn’t what it looks like on the surface. MLB uses three different definitions of money — Payroll (AAV), Annual Salary, and Annual Cash — and each one tells a different story. In this episode, we break down exactly how the A’s can claim they’re spending a certain number, while the actual cash handed to players can be far less. From signing bonuses to deferred money, we peel back the layers of the financial smoke and mirrors that define the A’s approach. 

This isn’t just about one team’s accounting trick; it’s about how the league allows owners to move numbers around like a shell game. For fans, it explains why the A’s payroll figures never match reality. For players, it’s the difference between a check today and a promise tomorrow. We’ll show you how a $15 million “salary” year can end up as just $10 million in cash, all while MLB’s books record it as a flat $12 million. If you’ve ever wanted to understand how the A’s — and baseball at large — twist payroll math, this is the episode. 

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