The final MLB payroll accounting has been completed, and reports indicate the Chicago Cubs did in fact go over the first tier of the luxury tax in 2024, as the front office had suggested was likely.
News: A record 9 teams were over the Competitive Balance Tax in 2024, according to a memo sent to clubs obtained by ESPN. They include (in order of CBT payroll): Dodgers, Mets, Yankees, Phillies, Braves, Rangers, Astros, Giants and Cubs.
At the top, the Dodgers CBT payment is $103,016,896. The Mets weren't far behind, paying $97,115,609 while the Cubs are paying the least: $570, 309.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) December 20, 2024There's an MLB record $311.305 million in luxury tax penalties this year, more than $100 million more than a year ago, by nine teams that eclipsed the luxury tax.Dodgers: $103.016MMets: $97.116MYankees: $62.512MPhillies: $14.351MAtlanta: $14.026MRangers:$10.807MAstros:…
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 20, 2024Because the Cubs were taxed at the 20% rate, we can do some backwards math and say the Cubs were over the first tier of the luxury tax by just shy of $3 million. So they weren’t accidentally over by a hundred thousand bucks or whatever, and it would’ve been challenging to dip back under at the Trade Deadline even if the Cubs had sold off. I’m just relieved it wasn’t some tiny number, because that would’ve been particularly embarrassing.
You can take away any number of things from this news, depending mostly on your predisposition. Want to say it confirms that the Cubs will go over the luxury tax sometimes? OK. Want to say it confirms that they will only barely go over? OK. Want to say it was worth it to try? OK. Want to say it was foolish to go over by so little in a year where the team’s results could’ve been dramatically improved by spending on an additional reliever in the offseason? OK. (That one.)
As for the implications, we already know it means the Cubs are subject to certain free agency differences (if they sign a qualified free agent, for example, it would cost them their second and fifth round picks, plus those bonus slots, plus $1 million in IFA bonus pool space). We also know it would mean steeper financial penalties if the Cubs went over the tax again in 2025, but it seems like they don’t intend to do so. Which is a shame, because this year’s Cubs team projects to be better than last year’s, and thus would benefit more from supplementation.
But, hey, the worst of the CBA-related impacts from being over the tax kick in on your third consecutive year over, so maybe going over just two years in a row is something the Cubs would consider? It’d be nice.
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