NEW YORK – The Los Angeles Dodgers led a record nine teams owing Major League Baseball’s luxury tax this year with a $103 million fine, and the New York Mets owe $97.1 million, bringing their tax total below high-spending owner Steve Cohen to nearly $229 million. .
The World Series Champion Dodgers paying taxes for the fourth year in a row. The Dodgers’ $353 million tax paycheck included $1,032,454 in non-cash compensation for Shohei Ohtani, whose contract calls for the use of a suite for games at Dodger Stadium and an interpreter.
The Yankees are owed $62.5 million, according to figures finalized Friday by Major League Baseball and the players’ association. They were followed by Philadelphia ($14.4 million), Atlanta ($14 million), Texas ($10.8 million), Houston ($6.5 million), San Francisco ($2.4 million) and the Chicago Cubs ($570,000).
The total tax of $311.3 million surpassed the previous record of $209.8 million last year, when eight teams paid. Tax money must be paid to MLB by January 21st.
Toronto cut its tax payroll to $233.9 million, below the $237 million threshold, after a series of summer trades. The Blue Jays entered the season with a projected value of $244.3 million.
