BASEBALL : DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Average Salary Increases by 49%

The average baseball salary increased a record 49% this year to $891,188 on opening day, according to an Associated Press survey, and 223 players are making $1 million or more. The Dodgers’ $562,432 increase was the most in the majors, and the increase alone exceeded the payrolls of Baltimore and Houston. The Dodgers’ payroll increased from eighth to third with an average of $1,248,212.

There are 123 players topping the $2 million level and 32 making $3 million or more. Last year, only Robin Yount of Milwaukee reached $3 million and only 27 made $2 million or more on opening day.

Oakland leads with a payroll of $36,432,500 and an average salary of $1,349,352, an increase of $544,709 from the Athletics’ 1990 average.

Houston has the lowest average at $487,090 and is the only club whose payroll decreased. The Astros averaged $681,664 last season, but then pared their roster of most veterans.

The largest previous percentage increase was 47.7% in 1977, the first year after free agency. Last year, salaries increased 20.2% to $597,537, according to figures compiled by the Major League Baseball Players Assn.

“I’m just mind-boggled,” said Chuck O’Conner, the head of the owners’ Player Relations Committee. “This shocks me as to both the what and the why. Obviously, we think this is a problem. It’s one of some dimension. I don’t think you can look at this and say this is a situation that’s going to stabilize itself. It’s not.”

Figures for the survey were obtained from several player and management sources and include salaries and pro-rated shares of signing bonuses.

The New York Mets have the second-highest payroll at $1,251,538, an increase of $492,963. San Francisco’s increased from 12th to sixth at $1,117,619 and the New York Yankees dropped from fourth to ninth at $1,028,673.

The World Series champion Cincinnati Reds rose from 17th to 10th at $988,237, while Pittsburgh, which complains about salaries more than any other club, rose from 15th to 13th at $922,897, an increase of $330,507.

Dodgers outfielder Darryl Strawberry earns the most money this year at $3.8 million, while Giant teammates Kevin Mitchell and Will Clark are tied for second at $3.75 million. Toronto outfielder Joe Carter is fourth at $3,666,667 and Kansas City reliever Mark Davis is fifth at $3,625,000.

The Major League Baseball Players Assn. attributes the large increases to the salary system bouncing back after the collusion era, when clubs conspired to hold down salaries. Union head Donald Fehr was not immediately available Tuesday, and O’Conner said he thought it had to be more than just the end of collusion.

“I think your intuitive reaction is that it can’t continue,” said O’Conner, who projects a 12% increase in revenues this year. “You can’t continue to spend monies at this rate.”

Salary averages are taken on opening day and on Aug. 31, the day before clubs expand their rosters from 25 players to 40. Many players earn incentive bonuses, but the average usually declines during the season because several higher-paid players are released and replaced by younger players at or near the $100,000 minimum.