It's a vicious cycle that makes teams in smaller markets like Pittsburgh cellar dwellers year after year. In football, of course, Pittsburgh is a perennial powerhouse, because these parity issues don't exist.

A-Rod's 2011 salary is $32 million. He's the highest-paid player in the Majors. The Royals, meanwhile, have the lowest payroll in baseball this year, at $36.1 million.

So A-Rod is making only $4.1 million less than EVERY PLAYER ON THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS COMBINED!

Not surprisingly, the Yankees have the highest payroll in baseball for the 11th straight year. Their players are making a combined $201.7 million.

Check out the rundown of team payrolls for 2011 here.

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