The average salary when Opening-Day rosters are finalized Sunday will break the $4 million barrier for the first time, according to a study obtained by The Associated Press.

Clayton Kershaw tops players at $31 million and the Los Angeles Dodgers project to open the season with a payroll at about $270 million, also a record.

Fueled by the largest two-year growth in more than a decade, the average salary projects to be about $4.25 million.