Pete Rose was one of the first players ever to make $1M per season and he was basically a singles and doubles hitter.
Funny seeing you mention Rose. I’ll never forget in the 60s he said he wanted to be the first “singles hitter” to get a 6-figure salary. I think he was the first. So the slant toward power guys has always been there, but probably more so now.
Also was looking at salaries of the 1982 team and over half the team was making in the $30K range, lol. I know about inflation, but still. That’s what a bunch of singles hitters get for sticking to singles. Hendrick was at $800K, Hernandez $760K, the Wizard $450K, and that badass Dominican pitcher (who evidently has become a poster here) $350K.