The New York Yankees have been cautious about their spending so far this winter, and while fans have expressed their frustration, the Yankees have a reason.
Brian Cashman is trying to keep the payroll down from last year, and for good reason. According to Jesse Rogers of ESPN, the Yankees had a hefty luxury tax bill.
Rogers shared the final CBT numbers for the nine teams that paid the tax. The Yankees weren't the highest, but their $61 million total was the third most in the Major Leagues behind only the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets.
Yankees on hook for $61 million luxury tax, 3rd most in MLB
Rogers reports that the Dodgers have a lofty $169,375,768 luxury tax bill, by far the most of any team in Major League Baseball. The Mets were second with a $91,637,501 luxury tax mark, and the Yankees are at $61,774,820.
It's a lofty amount for the Yankees to pay, and they are over $100 million less than what the Dodgers wound up paying this season.
While the Dodgers' massive spending has led to back-to-back World Series titles, the Yankees have come up short in 2024 and couldn't make it past the ALDS in 2025.
This number makes things clear for the Yankees: they need to try to find a way to limit the 2026 payroll. They've done so by not going after a lot of free agents this winter, much to the chagrin of the fanbase.
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Luke Weaver, Michael King, Devin Williams, and plenty of others have all signed free agent deals this offseason. The Yankees haven't made any such strong offers, including making no attempt on Weaver or King, in very odd decisions from the front office.
While the Yankees are trying not to overspend this winter, they are still in the market for some of the top free agents, like Cody Bellinger, Kyle Tucker, and Bo Bichette.
The Yankees have the means to spend big every offseason, but Hal Steinbrenner and the Yankees front office are planning to cut back a bit this season, thanks potentially to the $61 million luxury tax bill.
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