The Yankees, Mariners, Red Sox and Mets will feel the biggest sting of baseball's new labor deal. But it won't be the Devil Rays, Marlins or Expos that will be helped the most.

According to revenue-sharing estimates obtained from baseball sources, the two teams that could get the biggest bump in their baseball welfare checks under the new labor agreement are the Brewers and Pirates.

Those two teams won't be getting the biggest checks, based 2001 revenue figures. But they will go from approximately $2.3 million in aid under the current system to about $8.2 million under the new deal -- a jump of almost $6 million (and 389 percent).

These figures-- estimates are based on 2001 revenues, not projected 2002 or 2003 revenues, so they may not reflect the actual amounts teams pay or receive -- don't include any additional luxury-tax payments on payroll, but show that the Yankees' revenue-sharing hit could swell from about $29 million under the current system to about $45 million under the new deal. (They would also have to pay close to $10 million in additional luxury tax, based on their current payroll.)

The teams receiving the most dollars in revenue-sharing payouts would be the Expos (up more than $2 million to $31.3 million) and Twins (up about $4 million to $22.6 million). But those two clubs were already receiving the most under the old system.

Four other teams which still will be paying out in revenue sharing, will be paying less under this system. Those teams are the Giants, Diamondbacks, Astros and White Sox. It's a clear indication of how middle-market teams are helped significantly by this deal.

In fact, the difference in next year's revenue-sharing bottom line for the Devil Rays and Astros under the new deal is almost identical. (Both have another million and a half dollars or so to play with.) But it was always the intent of MLB's negotiating team to bring the middle-market teams closer to the large-market teams in this deal. And these figures show the degree to which they succeeded.

Revenue sharing estimates for 2003 (using 2001 revenues) (figures don't include luxury-tax payments on payroll)
TEAMS PAYING
Team	2003 amount	2001 amount	Difference
New York Yankees	$45 million	$29 million	+$16 million
Seattle Mariners	$28 million	$18 million	+$10 million
New York Mets	$25 million	$16 million	+$9 million
Boston Red Sox	$24 million	$16 million	+$8 million
Cleveland Indians	$19 million	$13 million	+$6 million
Atlanta Braves	$16 million	$11 million	+$5 million
Texas Rangers	$11 million	$9 million	+$2 million
St. Louis Cardinals	$9.5 million	$8 million	+$1.5 million
Baltimore Orioles	$8.5 million	$7 million	+$1.5 million
Chicago Cubs	$7.3 million	$7.0 million	+$300,000
Colorado Rockies	$6.5 million	$6.1 million	+$400,000
San Francisco Giants	$5.5 million	$6 million	-$500,000
Arizona Diamondbacks	$3.8 million	$4.9 million	-$1.1 million
Houston Astros	$3.2 million	$4.7 million	-$1.5 million
Chicago White Sox	$2.2 million	$4.1 million	-$1.9 million
TEAMS RECEIVING
Montreal Expos	$31.3 million	$29 million	+2.3 million
Minnesota Twins	$22.6 million	$18.6 million	+$4 million
Florida Marlins	$20.7 million	$18.3 million	+$2.5 million
Kansas City Royals	$19.6 million	$15.6 million	+$4 million
Cincinnati Reds	$15.8 million	$12.8 million	+$3 million
Tampa Bay Devil Rays	$13.6 million	$12.2 million	+$1.4 million
Philadelphia Phillies	$14.2 million	$11 million	+$3.2 million
Toronto Blue Jays	$13.5 million	$11 million	+$2.5 million
Oakland Athletics	$14.5 million	$10.1 million	+$4.4 million
Anaheim Angels	$12.5 million	$9.9 million	+$2.6 million
San Diego Padres	$11 million	$9 million	+$2 million
Detroit Tigers	$9 million	$6.7 million	+$2.3 million
Milwaukee Brewers	$8.2 million	$2.3 million	+$5.9 million
Pittsburgh Pirates	$8.2 million	$2.3 million	+$5.9 million

Jayson Stark is a senior writer for ESPN.com.