1. SUMMARY — Major League Baseball's average player salary on Opening Day 2026 reached a record $5.34 million (precisely $5,335,966), up 3.4% from $5,160,245 in 2025, according to an Associated Press study.1 The New York Mets led spending for the fourth straight year with a $352.2 million payroll, ahead of the Dodgers at $316.6 million, while highlighting payroll disparities with Cleveland lowest at $62.3 million.1

2. FACT CHECK — All key claims are fully supported by the Associated Press study cited in the article and corroborated across multiple outlets including ESPN, SF Chronicle, and AP wires, with consistent figures for average salary ($5.335M, +3.4%), Mets' leading payroll ($352.2M), top players like Soto ($61.9M), and trends like six teams over $250M; prior year average of $5.16M matches 2025 AP data, and no conflicting information found.12 Nothing misleading; article notes adjustments for deferrals and exclusions (e.g., restricted list players).

3. CREDIBILITY — 10/10. ESPN hosts a legitimate Associated Press study with precise, verifiable data matching widespread reporting from reputable sources like AP, Fangraphs projections, and Spotrac payroll trackers—no fabrication or discrepancies.12

4. BIAS — CENTER. Straightforward factual reporting on salaries and payrolls from AP data, with no political slant or opinionated framing on labor economics or team spending.

5. VERDICT — The article is accurate and fully verified by the AP study and consistent cross-source confirmation.