Yankees baseball blog

Life of Luxury

The Yankees were hit with a luxury-tax bill for about $34 million, according to The Associated Press, making them by far the biggest offenders in baseball. Only the Bombers and the Red Sox (who owe $4 million) went over the $128million threshold, with the Yanks taxed at a 40% rate because this was the third year they surpassed it. The Bombers' payroll - average annual value of salaries for the 40-man roster including benefits - was $213.1 million. (Daily News)

Yanks losing at Money Ball

Despite drawing more than four million fans, the Yankees lost between $50 million and $85 million for the 2005 season, several Major League Baseball sources told the Daily News. The benefactors of baseball, who pumped more than $200 million into their payroll and almost $110 million into revenue sharing and luxury tax, are deep in the red this year. "Yes, even George has his limits," one source said. And it may get worse.

According to lawyers close to the situation, the Yankees might have to share additional revenue with poorer clubs if a consultant hired by MLB decides they undervalued their television rights. The Yankees currently charge the YES Network about $60 million a year to broadcast games, but the consultant is expected to say the rights are worth far more. If he does, that will mean the Yankees will be required to make up the difference and put more money into the revenue-sharing fund. Continue

Bomber payroll dwarfs other playoff teams

The Yankees entered the postseason with a record payroll of nearly $203 million, triple that of the Padres. The Bombers' payroll as of Aug. 31, the last day before active rosters expanded, was a major league-record $202,978,809. Among the other playoff teams, the World Series champion Red Sox were second at $126,800,160, and the Angels were fifth at $96,140,560. The NL champion Cardinals had the highest payroll among the NL playoff teams, 10th at $83,510,604, and the Astros were 11th at $77,453,843. The Braves were 12th at $74,977,433.

Among the four AL playoff teams, the White Sox had the lowest payroll, 13th in the majors at $74,273,478. The Padres were 15th in the big leagues at $70,503,572. The figures, which do not include earned performance bonuses, are unofficial. They are for 25-man rosters and players on the disabled list, and included prorated shares of signing bonuses and other guaranteed income. Final payroll figures, which include both performance and award bonuses, will not be available until late December. (NY Post)

$30M luxury tax for Yankees

While the Yankees may be near the bottom of the AL East standings, they're still at the top of the luxury tax leader board. With a payroll of about $200 million, the Bombers will have to fork over a record $30,637,531, according to commissioner's office figures obtained by The Associated Press. That's more than 30 times what the Red Sox - the only other team projected to be taxed - have to pay.

Teams with payrolls over $128million are subject to the tax this season, and the Yanks are charged at a 40% rate on the amount over $128 million because they are over the limit for the third time since the new labor agreement was reached in 2003. The Sox, over for the second time, are hit with only a 30% surcharge. The Yanks paid nearly $26 million last season. Conitnue

Yankees salaries 2005

Salaries and pro-rated shares of signing bonuses and other guaranteed income. (NY Post)

Alex Rodriguez $25,705,118
Derek Jeter 19,600,000
Mike Mussina 19,000,000
Kevin Brown 15,714,286
Randy Johnson 15,419,815
Jason Giambi 13,428,571
Bernie Williams 12,357,143
Gary Sheffield 11,496,689
Jorge Posada 11,000,000
Mariano Rivera 10,500,000
Carl Pavano 9,000,000
Hideki Matsui 8,000,000
Steve Karsay 6,000,000
Jaret Wright 5,666,667
Mike Stanton 4,000,000
Tom Gordon 3,750,000
Felix Rodriguez 3,150,000
Paul Quantrill 3,000,000
Tino Martinez 2,750,000
Tony Womack 2,000,000
Ruben Sierra 1,500,000
Tanyon Sturtze 850,000
John Flaherty 800,000
Rey Sanchez 600,000
Bubba Crosby 332,950
Andy Phillips 317,200

TEAM TOTAL 208,306,817