The Phillies officially owe $6.98 million for exceeding MLB’s Competitive Balance Tax in 2023, according to the Associated Press.
Eight teams will have to pay the CBT, often referred to as the luxury tax.
The stiffest penalty ever went to the Mets, who have to pay a shade under $101 million, shattering the previous record of $43.6 million by the 2015 Dodgers.
Eight teams, the most ever, surpassed the initial $233 million tax threshold:
• Mets: $100.8M over
• Padres: $39.7M
• Yankees: $32.4M
• Dodgers: $19.4M
• Phillies: $6.98M
• Blue Jays: $5.5M
• Braves: $3.2M
• Rangers: $1.8M
As you can see, a few of the financial penalties are far unlike the others. This is because there are four tiers of penalties (over $233M, over $253M, over $273M and over $293M) and they stiffen for repeat taxpayers. The Phillies finished around $256 million.
It was the second straight year over the tax for the Phillies, Mets and Yankees, who pay 30% on their overages rather than the 20% paid by the first-timers — the Blue Jays, Braves and Rangers.
Like Texas, Atlanta and Toronto, the Phillies had a relatively low tax bill of less than $7 million. The four teams paid between $1.8M and $6.98M, essentially the cost of a decent veteran reliever.
A year ago, the Phils’ tax was just under $2.9 million.
The Mets were hit hardest after exceeding the highest tax threshold of $293 million, finishing with a final CBT payroll of $374.7 million. For finishing more than $60 million above, they also pay a surcharge of 60% of every dollar between $293 million and that $374.M figure.
Additionally, the Mets’ first-round pick in the 2024 draft will be moved back 10 spots.
In total, MLB collected just under $210 million from its eight luxury tax payers, money that will be used to fund player benefits and individual player retirement accounts with the other half being distributed to eligible revenue-sharing teams.
The luxury tax threshold increases during each year of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, which expires after 2026. It is $237 million in 2024, $241 million in 2025 and $244 million in 2026.
The Phillies as presently constructed are right at the luxury tax threshold for 2024, though the exact figures are calculated at season’s end. They still figure to add at least one more reliever and a fourth outfielder this winter and could take on more money at the trade deadline if they’re in a promising position.
The Dodgers, Mets and Yankees each have projected payrolls $40-50 million higher than the Phillies.
Whatever the opposite of the “Immaculate Reception” is, Washington’s Jamison Crowder pulled it off Sunday afternoon against the Jets. Well, “let it go” might be a better description, as Crowder was in the midst of a strong punt return when … whoops.
Jets safety Ashtyn Davis recovered the fumble at midfield, which negated what had been a fairly sweet 24-yard run by Crowder. It was one of the few, if not only, highlights for Washington. The Jets went up 17-0 in less than 10 minutes of game clock, and later turned Crowder’s fumble into a field goal.
But despite the early mistake and trailing by as many as 20 points, Washington nearly pulled off a miraculous comeback behind the second-half brilliance of backup QB Jacoby Brissett.
Alas, the Jets won 30-28 on after kicking a field goal in the closing seconds.
Both teams combined have fewer wins — nine — than most division leaders, meaning this is the definition of a play-out-the-string game. While changes may be afoot in Washington after this season, the Jets are playing with a touch of fire in the wake of news that head coach Robert Saleh will be back next year. It’s been pretty much the definition of a lost season for the Jets since Aaron Rodgers went down on the fourth play of the year, and they received an early Christmas gift from the Commanders.
Eastern Michigan defensive back Korey Hernandez started a brawl after he ran up and sucker punched South Alabama defensive back Jamarrien Burt in the head.
The incident occurred after the Jaguars completed their 59-10 rout of the Eagles in the 68 Ventures Bowl on Saturday. As South Alabama was singing its alma mater in front of its home fans and the band at Hancock Whitney Stadium, Hernandez ran in from out of the frame and hit Burt from behind.
On Sunday, Eastern Michigan athletic director Scott Wetherbee addressed the situation in a statement.
We strongly condemn the actions of some of the student-athletes on the EMU football team in the ugly incident that took place following last night’s 68 Ventures Bowl. We are deeply upset and embarrassed by what happened,” Wetherbee said. “Their conduct does not reflect the great pride and high standards we place on the game and our program, and the expectations for good sportsmanship and exemplary conduct of student-athletes on and off the field. What happened was completely unacceptable. We apologize to the Eastern Michigan University community and to the South Alabama team and their fans.”
I didn’t see things when they happened,” Eastern Michigan head coach Chris Creighton said. “But I definitely saw the intensity of what had just happened. We had a really good, long talk in the locker room afterwards. We want to be first-class all the time, no matter the circumstances, no matter what the scoreboard is, no matter what other factors, people, whatever are involved. And anything short of being first-class is not living up to the standard that we have in Eastern Michigan football.
“I think that our guys care a lot about performing well. I’m sure we were embarrassed by how we played and it probably didn’t take too much to get our guys into a place that we hope that they never get.”
Meanwhile, Jaguars head coach Kane Wommack said an investigation would ensue into what caused the matter.
“This is a very special game, it’s a hard game,” Wommack said. “It’s a team game and you do everything you can on a football field to be the best for your teammates. And at times, things get emotional and they get passionate and we ask these guys to play on the line of that emotion and passion in every single way. Those are never things that you want to end a game with.
“We will certainly take ownership of our part. We will look and find out exactly what happened. I couldn’t tell you exactly what did. I’ll get more information as we go. … We’re going to win, but it’s also how we win. And so we want to make sure that we hold people accountable to the standard that we want to operate, in the way we want to represent the city of Mobile and the University of South Alabama.
“Those will be things that we’ll get to the bottom of, but this is a night to really be proud of the things that we’ve accomplished and the young men that do things the right way. And that’s why we’re here.”
In addition to EMU looking into the matter Wetherbee said the Eagles have in talks with MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher. He has assured him and the South Alabama leadership that Eastern Michigan is “committed to working jointly to investigate the incident.”
