The Boston Red Sox are baseball's biggest spender for the second-straight year, according to a study of Major League salaries by The Associated Press.

Boston's payroll began the season at just under $222 million. The figure was the lowest for a top payroll since 2012.

The Chicago Cubs were second at $209 million, followed by the New York Yankees at $207 million, the Los Angeles Dodgers at $191 million, Washington at $185 million and San Francisco at $176 million.

Only five teams are under $90 million: Oakland ($88 million), Baltimore ($78 million), Pittsburgh ($77 million), Miami ($71 million) and Tampa Bay ($61 million).