For a variety of reasons, several low payroll teams have experienced various degrees of unexpected success over the past 10-15 MLB seasons. Examples stem from items such as the use of analytics (Rays, Athletics, Pirates) to the discovery of a dominant bullpen with a touch of luck (Royals),
It might appear that payroll gaps between teams no longer account for a large portion of the win gaps. This would qualify as poor news for the Yankees, a team that consistently outspends the rest of the league (until Stan Kasten, Magic Johnson, and co. with the Dodgers) in hopes of boosting win totals.