- All figures are courtesy of Spotrac, and most recently updated on April 15
- What we're looking at here is the luxury tax payrolls of the top 10 teams, which take the average annual value of each individual player's contract.
- These are the four luxury tax thresholds for the 2022 season -- Tier 1: $230 million with a 20% tax rate; Tier 2: $250 million with a 32% tax rate; Tier 3: $270 million with a 62.5% tax rate; Tier 4: $290 million with with an 80% tax rate.
- Because of the MLB lockout, arbitration hearings are being held during the 2022 season. As they are resolved, payrolls will be updated accordingly.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers: $285,508,333
Mookie Betts is one of the highest paid players in Dodgers history.(Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)Highest Luxury Tax Salary in 2022: Trevor Bauer -- $32,000,000
Each of Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Trea Turner count $21 million or more towards the 2022 luxury tax threshold for the Dodgers. Betts counts the largest chunk (25,554824) towards the luxury tax threshold of players currently on the 26-man roster, but Trevor Bauer's $34 million luxury tax threshold is the largest on the books for the team right now. Bauer is currently on administrative leave, so he does count towards the luxury tax threshold for the time being. If he's ultimately suspended, the former National League Cy Young Award winner won't count towards the luxury tax threshold. Turner, Clayton Kershaw and Craig Kimbrel will all come off the books after the 2022 season.
2. New York Mets: $256,593,576
Max Scherzer is one of the highest paid players on the Mets.(Rich Schultz/Getty Images)Highest Luxury Tax Salary in 2022: Max Scherzer -- $43,333,333
After signing a three-year/$130 million deal with the Mets this past offseason, three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer has a league-high $43,333,333 luxury tax salary in 2022. Francisco Lindor is second on the team with a $31,900,000 luxury tax salary.
3. New York Yankees: $245,190,714
Gerrit Cole is one of the highest-paid players on the Yankees.(Mike Stobe/Getty Images)Highest Luxury Tax Salary in 2022: Gerrit Cole -- $36,000,000
Gerrit Cole, Josh Donaldson and Giancarlo Stanton each have luxury tax salaries at or in excess of $22 million in 2022. As you may have heard, Aaron Judge can become a free agent this offseason. If the Yankees hope to retain the three-time All-Star, he may need to have a luxury tax salary in the neighborhood of Cole's $36 million mark beginning in 2023.
4. Philadelphia Phillies: $233,619,644
Bryce Harper is one of the highest-paid players on the Phillies.(Rich Schultz/Getty Images)Highest Luxury Tax Salary in 2022: Bryce Harper -- $25,384,615
For the first time in franchise history, the Phillies are exceeding the first luxury tax threshold in 2022, following an offseason that saw them add Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber to their lineup. Castellanos (20,000,000), J.T. Realmuto (23,100,000), Zack Wheeler (23,600,000) and Bryce Harper (25,384,615) carry the four highest luxury tax salaries on the team.
5. San Diego Padres: $209,210,248
Manny Machado is one of the highest-paid players on the Padres.(Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)Highest Luxury Tax Salary in 2022: Manny Machado -- $30,000,000
Despite Fernando Tatis Jr. signing a 14-year/$340 million deal ahead of the 2021 season, Manny Machado still carries the highest luxury tax threshold on the team at $30,000,000. The Padres are an example of a team that's massively increased their spending in recent years as they attempt to become a World Series contender.
6. Boston Red Sox: $210,816,000
Trevor Story is one of the highest-paid players on the Red Sox.(Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)Highest Luxury Tax Salary in 2022: Trevor Story -- $23,333,333
Trevor Story is one of three players on the Red Sox with a luxury tax salary at or above $20,000,000, leading a group that also includes J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts. Chaim Bloom will have his work cut out next offseason, when Martinez, Bogaerts, Nathan Eovaldi and Kiké Hernandez can all become free agents.
7. Chicago White Sox: $192,085,310
Dallas Keuchel is one of the highest-paid players on the White Sox.(Quinn Harris/Getty Images)Highest Luxury Tax Salary in 2022: Dallas Keuchel -- $18,500,000
Each of Liam Hendriks, Yasmani Grandal and Dallas Keuchel have luxury tax salaries at or above $18 million in 2022. The White Sox will have to decide whether to re-sign former American League MVP José Abreu this offseason, and a megadeal for Luis Robert might not be too far off.
8. Los Angeles Angels: $189,645,196
Mike Trout is one of the highest-paid players on the Angels.(Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)Highest Luxury Tax Salary in 2022: Mike Trout -- $35,541,667
Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon both have luxury tax salaries at or above $35 million in 2022, and the Angels are going to have to consider a new deal for Shohei Ohtani -- who can become a free agent after 2023 -- in short order. Additionally, if Noah Syndergaard reaches his frontline potential in his first season with the Halos, they will likely want to sign him to a long-term deal.
9. Atlanta Braves: $178,172,548
Matt Olson is one of the highest-paid players on the Braves.(Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)Highest Luxury Tax Salary in 2022: Matt Olson -- $21,000,000
The defending World Series Champion Braves allowed franchise icon Freddie Freeman to depart in free agency, instead acquiring Matt Olson in a trade with the Oakland Athletics. Olson -- who signed an eight-year/$168 million extension on the way in the door -- leads the team with a $21,000,000 luxury tax salary in 2022. Charlie Morton is second with a $20,000,000 luxury tax salary.
10. Houston Astros: $172,354,651
Justin Verlander is one of the highest-paid players on the Astros.(Michael Owens/Getty Images)Highest Luxury Tax Salary in 2022: Justin Verlander -- $25,000,000
Even after he missed the better part of two seasons, future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander landed a two-year/$50 million deal to remain with the Astros this past offseason. He edges out Jose Altuve ($23,357,143) and Alex Bregman ($20,000,000) for the highest luxury tax salary on the team.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
