A-Rod, Yankees Lead Money List

At $22 million this season, Texas Ranger shortstop Alex Rodriguez makes more money than any other baseball player. He also makes more money than the entire Tampa Bay Devil Ray roster.

A study of 2003 baseball salaries revealed:

* Baseball’s average salary shot past $2.5 million on opening day this week.

* The New York Yankees spend nearly $150 million on its player payroll.

* The New York Mets are No. 2 at $116.9 million.

* The Dodgers, Atlanta and Texas also topped $100 million.

* Tampa Bay has a 25-man roster costing $19.6 million.

Rodriguez, the youngest player to hit 300 homers, leads all players in salary for the third straight year.

Overall, the average salary rose 7.2% to $2,555,476, behind the NBA ($4.54 million) but ahead of the NHL ($1.64 million) and the NFL ($1.25 million).

In a sign of baseball’s economic slowdown, the number of players making $1 million or more dropped to 385 from 413 last year and 425 in 2000.

The study showed that behind Rodriguez on the highest-paid list were Toronto’s Carlos Delgado ($18.7 million), Boston’s Manny Ramirez ($17.2 million), the Mets’ Mo Vaughn ($17.2 million) and the Chicago Cubs’ Sammy Sosa ($16.9 million).

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The Florida Marlins are allowing military personnel and their dependents to attend games for free this season.

To receive tickets, eligible personnel must present their military ID at Pro Player Stadium. Personnel may take advantage of the program as many times as they wish this season.

The Houston Astros announced Wednesday that they will offer active and retired military personnel and their dependents discounted tickets to Sunday games.

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New York Yankee closer Mariano Rivera reported no problems after throwing 30 pitches at Tampa, Fla. as he works his way back from a groin injury. He is not expected back until late this month.