Say what you want about the Dodgers, but there’s no debate their ownership group is willing to invest in the on-field product.
One need to look no further than Los Angeles’ $310 million payroll for the 2022 season, one that comes with a record-setting $47 million luxury tax bill, according to figures obtained by the Associated Press. No team has ever paid such a lofty tax, one that has been levied against the Dodgers for exceeding the fourth and highest $290 million tax threshold.
Under the new collective bargaining agreement, the four tax thresholds are set at $230 million, $250 million, $270 million and $290 million. First-time offenders pay 20% on the amount above the first threshold, 32% above the second, 62.5% above the third and 80% above the fourth, according to ESPN. The Dodgers are a repeat offender, however, meaning they are paying 30% above the first, 42% above the second, 75% above the third and 90% above the fourth.
There are only five teams that have exceeded the $230 million threshold in 2022. The Mets are second with a payroll of $289.3 million with a $22.5 million tax bill, followed by the Yankees ($261.4 million, $7.6 million tax), Phillies ($233.1 million, $629,000 tax) and Red Sox ($232.3 million, $466,000 tax).
Though the Associated Press did not reveal the San Francisco Giants payroll figures, Spotrac projects their total payroll to be around $160 million, which would be in the middle of the pack for MLB.
The Dodgers are paying eight players $15 million or more in salary in 2022. The Giants are paying just two players over that mark in Carlos Rodon ($21.5 million) and Brandon Crawford ($16 million).
