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By Valentina Martinez
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Los Angeles Dodgers have been linked to some of the biggest free agent names on the market, including star outfielder Kyle Tucker and star infielder Bo Bichette.
More news: Blue Jays Aren’t Desperate to Sign Bo Bichette, Says MLB Insider
But in order to land either of those players, the World Series champions face a hefty tax punishment in signing free agents. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon explained why the Dodgers will have to pay a ridiculous amount of money for any player.
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"Any team that exceeds the base luxury-tax threshold for three or more consecutive years pays a 50 percent penalty for every dollar it goes above," Rosenthal and Sammon wrote. "Any team that exceeds the base threshold by $60 million or more pays an additional 60 percent surcharge.
"The Los Angeles Dodgers qualify on both counts, so their penalty for signing Tucker or any of the other remaining free agents would be 110 percent. At a $40 million AAV, Tucker would cost them $84 million. At a $35 million AAV, the number would be a mere $73.5 million."
More news: Blue Jays Rumors Heat Up as Kyle Tucker, George Springer Attend Golf Event
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More news: Blue Jays’ Latest Signing Could Open Door For Dodgers Landing Bo Bichette
The Dodgers have already experienced the tax penalization with baseball's best closer, Edwin Diaz. The defending champion signed Diaz to a three-year, $69 million deal. The reliever's annual average value is $21.1 million after deferrals, but in reality, the Dodgers are set to pay $44.3 million annually.
The Dodgers are not considered the favorites to land the crown jewel of free agency, Tucker. However, if the Toronto Blue Jays fall out of the sweepstakes, the outfielder could very well fall into the laps of the defending champions.
As for Bichette, the Dodgers' potential signing of the 27-year-old makes a lot of sense. However, it's unclear whether LA will strike a deal with the infielder.
As evidenced by the Diaz signing, the Dodgers don't seem to be deterred by the hefty tax penalizations the organization faces. More money certainly gives the Dodgers some problems, but they don't seem to care.
More news: Blue Jays Signing Bo Bichette Appears ‘Increasingly Unlikely,’ Per Insider
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