Colorado Rockies Payroll Out of the Ballpark

Despite the departures of Matt Holliday or Brian Fuentes, the Colorado Rockies’ payroll is one of the largest in franchise history, according to an analysis by insidetherockies.com.

Before Holliday was sent to Oakland in the off-season, he was the second-highest-paid player on the team, and closer Fuentes (pictured) was the fourth-highest.

But assuming that Juan Morillo will get the final place on the team’s 25-man active roster, the Rockies payroll will hit $77.2 million, nearly $7 million more than a year ago.

The 2009 baseball season begins on Monday.