New York Mets have top payroll; record-tying six teams set to pay luxury tax
NEW YORK (AP) -- The Mets are on track to have baseball's highest payroll for the first time since 1989, among a record-tying six teams set to pay a penalty for spending.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, who started the season as the top spender, fell into second due to Trevor Bauer's suspension.
New York entered the last full month of the season with a $273.9 million payroll, according to updated figures through Aug. 31 complied by Major League Baseball. The Dodgers are second at $267.2 million, followed by the New York Yankees at $254.4 million.
MORE: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34624629/new-york-mets-top-payroll-record-six-teams-set-pay-luxury-tax
Luxury tax projections
• Mets: $29.9 million
• Dodgers: $29.4 million
• Yankees: $9.4 million
• Phillies: $2.6 million
• Red Sox: $900,000
• Padres: $800,000
The Yankees have paid $348 million in tax since the penalties began in 2003, followed by the Dodgers' $182 million