Just
two teams will need to pay Major League Baseball's "luxury tax" this year—the Washington Nationals and your Boston Red Sox. The payroll for this year's
Carmine Hose roster is $233.9 million—resulting in a tax payout of $9.4 million. The Nationals' payroll in 2018 is $201 million—meaning they will pay a $1.2 million luxury tax. Amazingly,
The Bronx Embalmers are well
under the $197 million tax threshold that triggers the tax ($178.8 million). Because they come under the wire, their tax rate next year will be only 20%—allowing them more flexibility in their pursuit of free agents like
Bryce Harper,
Manny Machado,
Josh Donaldson and (
possibly)
Clayton Kershaw. Some of the other team salaries below the threshold are: San Francisco at $196.66 million, the Chicago Cubs at $183.9 million, Houston at $182.4 million, the Los Angeles Dodgers at $181.99 million. Perhaps the most frustrating element of Boston's payroll is the "dead" money they still owe this year—
which comprises about $20.6 million. This is
largely made up by payments to three former players:
Pablo Sandoval ($18,455,000),
Manny Ramirez ($2.003,389) and
Allen Craig ($1,000,000).
