Red Sox exceed Luxury Tax threshold

[26 to 6]

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2010/07/update_sox_are.html

 

Just sayin....

[italstallianion]

Just saying what?

[26 to 6]

That they exceeded the luxury tax limit. That's all

[BigPapiEnFuego]

Oh well. They better still be willing to make trades/get free agents next year. With the outrageous ticket prices and all the other ridiculous crap they do to earn money the luxury tax better not be an issue.

[jacksonianmarch]

Don't care if they exceeded it. Rumor per WEEI is that it will hinder them at the deadline cause they don't want to surpass it by too much

[26 to 6]

I agree with you. I just wanted to put this on record for the next time an argument arises over the Yankees spending habits and how they contribute to the luxury tax more than anyone, just so we can say we're not alone.

 

If I were a Red Sox fan though I would be livid if they let this prohibit them from going out and improving their team not only down the stretch, but in future seasons as well; especially considering their league leading attendance prices.

[italstallianion]

I agree with you. I just wanted to put this on record for the next time an argument arises over the Yankees spending habits and how they contribute to the luxury tax more than anyone' date=' just so we can say we're not alone. [/b']

If I were a Red Sox fan though I would be livid if they let this prohibit them from going out and improving their team not only down the stretch, but in future seasons as well; especially considering their league leading attendance prices.

 

 

 

That's a really weak argument though. Just because the Red Sox are now over the luxury tax, doesn't mean that they are anywhere near the Yankees in terms of spending. Granted, it's a dumb argument to say that the Yankees are the lone offender, but it's an equally ignorant argument to say that other teams are in the same universe as the Yankees.

[Dipre]

I think 26 was trying to make a point here, but i kind of lost it among the sheer amount of numbers that comprise the Yankee payroll.

 

The rest of the MLB is not in the same universe as the Yankees when it comes to spending, and it's a simple manner of identifying investment/return. Baseball is a business, and usually, the teams that make the most money, spends the most money, and no one makes or spends as much money as the Yankees. It's the way the system is set up, and they're not the only ones who take advantage, but trying to downplay the difference in spending power because the luxury tax threshold was broken is like trying to hide the sun with a finger.

[Yaz Sideburn]

everyone knew they'd exceed it when they signed beltre. i'd say it's been worth it

[example1]

It is my understanding that this isn't the first time they have paid the luxury tax, so you're not really making any point you couldn't have made yesterday or last year. Weak sauce.

 

It is also important to note how the luxury tax is being handled by the FO. They are trying to avoid going over it. They aren't disregarding it with some pathetic explanation that by doing so they are bolstering the rest of the league. They try to avoid going over it and it acts as a prescriptive limit for how much they should spend. Just like the other teams who have gone over it historically, except for the Yankees, who don't care about it. That's the difference.

[yankees228]

It is my understanding that this isn't the first time they have paid the luxury tax, so you're not really making any point you couldn't have made yesterday or last year. Weak sauce.

 

It is also important to note how the luxury tax is being handled by the FO. They are trying to avoid going over it. They aren't disregarding it with some pathetic explanation that by doing so they are bolstering the rest of the league. They try to avoid going over it and it acts as a prescriptive limit for how much they should spend. Just like the other teams who have gone over it historically, except for the Yankees, who don't care about it. That's the difference.

 

The Yankees actually say that the primary reason they exceed the luxury tax is to bolster the rest of the league?

[example1]

The Yankees actually say that the primary reason they exceed the luxury tax is to bolster the rest of the league?

 

No. Their fans often resort to that when the discussion of going over the established luxury tax is brought up, as some sort of justification. I don't think justification is needed, as long as Yankee fans are just willing to acknowledge that the financial advantage they have--even over other very larger market teams--is significant enough to have a meaningful impact on the field.

[SCM33]

If they cop out, and say that their deadline deals will be the return of Beckett, Pedroia, MDC, Tek, VMart...etc...etc.....I will be pissed off.

 

They want to cry over luxary tax? You are crying to the wrong people, not when fans pay those ridiculous prices to watch a ballgame there.

 

You want to know why ratings are down? Want to know why interest is down? I said it before, they put together a boring team, thats why. Now they are a broken down boring team.

 

I am going to the game 2nite, and I spent a pretty penny for these tickets a month ago....before these injuries......and I get to watch Eric Patterson and Kevin Cash.....awesome.

 

Crying about luxary tax.....give me a break. They better do something at the deadline.

[yankees228]

No. Their fans often resort to that when the discussion of going over the established luxury tax is brought up' date=' as some sort of justification. I don't think justification is needed, as long as Yankee fans are just willing to acknowledge that the financial advantage they have--even over other very larger market teams--is significant enough to have a meaningful impact on the field.[/quote']

 

Fair enough, that was unclear in your initial post, as you made it sound like that justification was coming from the Yankees. I agree with every bit of this post.

[example1]

Fair enough' date=' that was unclear in your initial post, as you made it sound like that justification was coming from the Yankees. I agree with every bit of this post.[/quote']

 

Sorry for the confusion.

 

Does anyone know what makes it difficult for the Red Sox to know that they are over the threshold? Why would there be any question or confusion one way or the other? That doesn't make sense to me, perhaps someone can explain it.

 

I didn't take all of the Red Sox moves to mean they were trying to avoid the luxury tax. I took them to mean they were trying to reduce how much of a cap hit they took. Could a franchise really be off by +/- $5million?

[yankees228]

Sorry for the confusion.

 

Does anyone know what makes it difficult for the Red Sox to know that they are over the threshold? Why would there be any question or confusion one way or the other? That doesn't make sense to me, perhaps someone can explain it.

 

I didn't take all of the Red Sox moves to mean they were trying to avoid the luxury tax. I took them to mean they were trying to reduce how much of a cap hit they took. Could a franchise really be off by +/- $5million?

 

Maybe purchasing all the minor league contracts because of injuries had something to do with it.

[example1]

Maybe purchasing all the minor league contracts because of injuries had something to do with it.

 

That could definitely be an answer. I think every year it is this time of year when some official organization tells the franchises how much money they actually spent. Maybe over the courst of a full season with all the minor moves, trades for PTBNL and cash, etc., make the accounting very difficult or requiring of official oversight. Thanks.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

A yankees fan would post this lol...

[BSN07]

If they cop out, and say that their deadline deals will be the return of Beckett, Pedroia, MDC, Tek, VMart...etc...etc.....I will be pissed off.

 

They want to cry over luxary tax? You are crying to the wrong people, not when fans pay those ridiculous prices to watch a ballgame there.

 

You want to know why ratings are down? Want to know why interest is down? I said it before, they put together a boring team, thats why. Now they are a broken down boring team.

 

I am going to the game 2nite, and I spent a pretty penny for these tickets a month ago....before these injuries......and I get to watch Eric Patterson and Kevin Cash.....awesome.

 

Crying about luxary tax.....give me a break. They better do something at the deadline.

 

You should start taking something for your stress levels now. You just pointed out how exactly I think the deadline is going to go down. There are no impact players available. Teams want too much for the 2nd tier guys. The Red Sox payroll seems to have hit their ceiling and the Sox farm system is not deep with what teams are looking for this year. This all points to minimal if any activity on the trade front for the Sox IMO.

[Palodios]

You should start taking something for your stress levels now. You just pointed out how exactly I think the deadline is going to go down. There are no impact players available. Teams want too much for the 2nd tier guys. The Red Sox payroll seems to have hit their ceiling and the Sox farm system is not deep with what teams are looking for this year. This all points to minimal if any activity on the trade front for the Sox IMO.

 

All signs point to this season being a true bridge year. High payroll, two albatross contracts, most of the talent in the system is a good way off, roughly 11 major injuries this season, and in a division with the two toughest team in baseball. I don't think they can seriously justify trading away more good prospects right now, unless it will help them in the long run-- bullpen help is the only thing I can see them trading for, but only if they can get a good deal.

[schillingouttheks]

The Red Sox have to go over the luxury tax because the Yankees are in their division. I really don't see how it's that hard to understand. The Sox and Yanks aren't constructed like a team such as Tampa Bay, which benefited from years of abysmal baseball (which would never be tolerated in the big markets like Boston and New York) to have the quality they do. If the Sox were in the AL West or Central, or in the NL, they wouldn't be spending over the luxury tax (or it would at least would be a lot less likely).

[Dojji]

Heck if it wasn't for NYY, the luxtax level would probably be a fair bit lower. their making a caricature of MLB's quasi honor system trying to keep salary costs under control is probably worse for the big league balance sheet than any prestige they bring to the game.