Major League Baseball’s average salary rose 7.1% last year to a record $4,525,719, according to the annual report the players’ association issued Thursday, but several teams appear to be cutting payroll for 2024.

After declining in 2021 following the pandemic-shortened season, the average rose 23% over two seasons. The 2022 average marked a 14.8% increase from 2021.

Union figures are based on the 2023 salaries, earned bonuses and prorated shares of signing bonuses for 1,038 players on Aug. 31 active rosters and injured lists, before active rosters expanded for the remainder of the season.

Luxury tax payrolls, based on 40-man rosters and average annual values, increased 12.2% in 2023, according to MLB’s calculations.

The Dodgers have topped offseason spending, giving two-way star Shohei Ohtani a record $700 million, 10-year contract and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto a $325 million, 12-year deal.

With some significant free agents still on the market, the Angels, New York Mets, San Diego, San Francisco, Boston, Colorado, Minnesota and the Chicago White Sox are among the teams on track to cut payroll from last year.

“In the face of record revenues of our game that will continue to spiral upward, we have major market teams, many of which would otherwise be competitive teams, simply cutting payroll and not investing in competitiveness,” said agent Scott Boras, who has yet to reach deals for free agents Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, Matt Chapman and J.D. Martinez.

The Mets and Padres paid the highest luxury tax last year for exceeding payroll thresholds and both failed to make the playoffs.

“When you look at the mass of the decline just in eight teams, you might see well over $300 million that was spent a year ago and that is not being spent today,” Boras said.

Union deputy executive director Bruce Meyer said he will wait until after opening day rosters are set before analyzing 2024 spending.

With some large multiyear deals for players with little or no major league experience, the gap decreased last year for players with two-to-three years service who are eligible for arbitration and those who were not.

Giants pitcher Beck has aneurysm in arm

San Francisco Giants right-hander Tristan Beck has been diagnosed with an aneurysm in the upper part of his pitching arm and is evaluating his treatment options after the condition was checked after he began experiencing numbness in his hand.

Beck could miss significant time, with opening day possibly in jeopardy.

He was a projected starter for San Francisco, which has been out of the playoffs the past two seasons and hired new manager Bob Melvin to replace Gabe Kapler.

Beck, 27, went 3-3 with a 3.92 ERA over 33 appearances with three starts as a rookie last season.

No.1 faces No. 1

Pittsburgh Pirates starter Paul Skenes retired the Baltimore Orioles’ Jackson Holliday on a grounder to second base Thursday in a spring training matchup of the top overall picks in the last two amateur drafts.

Skenes, a 6-foot-6 right-hander, was the first pick last year after going 13-2 with a 1.69 ERA and 209 strikeouts while leading LSU to the NCAA title. He agreed to a $9.2 million signing bonus and pitched in five games with Low-A Bradenton and Double-A Altoona.

“I think the biggest thing was just getting out there and pitching in front of people, because adrenaline is a big thing,” Skenes told reporters after the game in Sarasota Florida. “Just kind of wanted to see where we’re at.”

Holliday, the first pick in the 2022 draft, is regarded as baseball’s top prospect. The 20-year-old, a son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday, agreed to an $8.19 million signing bonus. He batted .323 with a .442 on-base percentage, 12 homers, 74 RBIs and 24 steals in 125 games for four minor league teams last season.

Skenes threw 10 pitches while retiring the side in order in his lone inning. His fastball reached 102 mph.