Yanks set to avoid luxury tax for 1st time

The New York Yankees are set to finish below the luxury tax threshold for the first time since the penalty started in 2003, according to figures compiled by the commissioner's office and obtained by The Associated Press.

The Boston Red Sox and Washington Nationals are the only teams on track to pay baseball's luxury tax this year.

The Yankees have paid the tax 15 consecutive seasons for a total of $341 million.

The Red Sox's luxury tax payroll was at $238.4 million on Aug. 31, up $4.5 million from Opening Day. The Nationals' luxury tax payroll was second at $203.9 million -- both teams' payrolls may go up because of earned bonuses and call-ups.

The Los Angeles Dodgers had the third-highest payroll at $194.5 million. The Yankees are at $192.1 million.

This year's tax threshold is at $197 million. By falling beneath that, the Yankees and Dodgers will reset their base tax rates to 20 percent if they are to go over next year's threshold of $206 million. Such looms large with the offseason's free agent class set to feature several big names, including Bryce Harper, Manny Machado and potentially Clayton Kershaw.

Luxury tax payrolls are based on the average annual values of contracts for all players on a team's 40-man roster.

--Field Level Media