Dodgers’ payroll nearly $300 million after trade for Utley
AP / 8-20-15
Chase Utley’s acquisition put the Los Angeles Dodgers close to becoming the first baseball team with a $300 million luxury-tax payroll.
The trade Wednesday that sent the six-time All-Star second baseman from Philadelphia to the NL West leaders raised the Dodgers’ projected payroll for tax purposes to about $298.5 million, according to calculations by Major League Baseball. Performance bonuses for other players and end-of-season award bonuses could make the Dodgers the first team to reach the $300 million mark.
Luxury tax payrolls are based on average annual values of contracts for the 40-man roster and include about $13 million per team in benefits, such as the health and pension plan, and payroll, unemployment and Social Security taxes.
Los Angeles is well above the $189 million tax threshold and will pay at a 40 percent rate for exceeding the mark for the third straight year. Its projected tax bill is about $44 million, which would top the record $34 million paid by the New York Yankees after the 2005 season.
LINK: http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Dodgers-payroll-nearly-300-million-after-6456423.php
Story reports The Dodgers’ payroll includes about $40 million due to players no longer with the organization. That alone is about one half of the Oakland A's entire opening day payroll or about 60% of the D-Backs!
SALARY CAP, NOW!
