Foul Territory: Which MLB Teams Are Most Successful With Limited Payroll?

It’s no secret that MLB is the only major North American sport without a salary cap. Because of this, front offices across the game are given varying budgets to build winning organizations.

If you’ve ever wondered which teams do the best with the least amount of resources, you’re in luck. The Foul Territory crew has taken every team’s average payroll from 2023 to the present and their average win total over that span in order to determine who spent the least amount of money per win over the last three seasons.

Note that despite their regular-season win efficiency, these teams have combined for zero World Series titles since 2004.

Tampa Bay Rays

Average Payroll: $84,925,738 (via Spotrac)
Average Win Total: 85.33
Dollar Spent Per Win: $995,223

Despite a lower-end payroll year after year, the Rays have won the AL East four times and have made two World Series appearances in the 2000s. Tampa Bay’s front office has earned a lot of respect from the industry because of this and has had many of its previous executives poached by other franchises.

Las Vegas Athletics

Average Payroll: $67,146,675 (via Spotrac)
Average Win Total: 65.00
Dollar Spent Per Win: $1,033,026

It’s hard not to make a list like this when your franchise spends more than $10 million less on their players per year than any other club. After signing Luis Severino in free agency and extending Brent Rooker and Lawrence Butler, there was a glimmer of hope, but Severino is already looking to move on from the homeless A’s.

Cleveland Guardians

Average Payroll: $94,603,070 (via Spotrac)
Average Win Total: 85.33
Dollar Spent Per Win: $1,108,630

The Guardians have won three division titles over the last four years and reached the ALCS in 2024. While they haven’t made any major splashes in free agency in recent years, Cleveland continues to develop quality players.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Average Payroll: $82,524,895 (via Spotrac)
Average Win Total: 74.33
Dollar Spent Per Win: $1,110,200

With arguably the best young pitching core in baseball, led by reigning NL Cy Young hopeful Paul Skenes, it’s time for owner Bob Nutting to open up his wallet. The last time the Pirates signed a free agent to a multi-year deal was Ivan Nova in 2018, but that will need to change if Pittsburgh plans to improve its offense.

Miami Marlins

Average Payroll: $88,592,578
Average Win Total: 75.00
Dollar Spent Per Win: $1,181,234

A magical 2023 season carried the Marlins onto this list, but they’re now under different front office management. 2024 was an ugly step back, but they exceeded expectations in 2025 with 79 wins and a third-place finish.