More benefit, as top teams divide record $129.1 million MLB postseason pool

A full postseason share for the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers totaled $477,441, down from 2022 and 2023 due to players opting to divide the record pool of $129.1 million among more people.

The pool, in the third year of expanded playoffs, topped $107.8 million last year, the commissioner's office said Tuesday.

Los Angeles voted 79 full shares, 17.49 partial shares and $405,000 in cash awards in dividing a pool of $46.47 million. The 96.49 full share equivalents were up from 76.56 last year, when the Texas Rangers split $38.81 million and a full share was worth $506,263. The Dodgers also voted the most share equivalents last year at 94.04, when they lost in the Division Series.

Houston received a record full share of $516,347 in 2022, when the Astros divided their pool into 59 full shares, 14.14 partial shares and $940,000 in cash awards.

Full share equivalents have risen in recent years. San Francisco had 56.65 when it won the title in 2014, and Houston 69.23 when it captured the championship in 2017.

All players and managers eligible for the World Series, who were with the team or on an injured list from June 1 or later, get a full share. Those not with the team on or after June 1 are eligible to get a full share or percentage share as voted by that team's players, along with two certified athletic trainers and one strength and conditioning coach.

Spring training coaches, traveling secretaries, clubhouse personnel, media relations staff personnel, scouts and the grounds crew are eligible for cash awards, but not shares.

Executives, such as general managers, assistant GMs, directors of baseball operations, team physicians and resident security agents, are not eligible for any part of the pool.

A full share for the AL champion New York Yankees came to $354,572, up from $313,634 for Arizona last year, when the Diamondbacks lost the World Series to Texas. The Yankees had 71 full shares and 16.38 partial shares for 87.38 full share equivalents.

Full shares for other playoff teams this year were:

$182,663 for Cleveland; $179,948 for the New York Mets; $55,729 for Detroit; $52,278 for Philadelphia; $49,583 for Kansas City; $45,985 for San Diego; $11,870 for Baltimore; $10,749 for Houston; $10,013 for Milwaukee; $9,548 for Atlanta.

The pool includes 60 percent of gate receipts from the first four games of the World Series and League Championship Series, the first three games of each Division Series and the first two games of each Wild Card Series. For each visiting team in the Wild Card Series, travel expenses of up to $100,000 per club are deducted.

The World Series champion gets 36 percent of the pool, the runner-up 24 percent, each LCS loser 12 percent, each Division Series loser 3.3 percent and each Wild Card Series loser 0.8 percent.

Agencies Via Xinhua