Sports in brief: Yankees hit with $18 million in baseball luxury tax

Times wires
Tuesday, December 21, 2010

BASEBALL

YankeeS lower luxury tax Bill to $18M

NEW YORK — The Yankees lowered spending on players by $12 million this year, cutting payroll by $5 million and slashing their major-league-leading luxury tax by more than $7 million.

New York was hit with an $18 million luxury tax Tuesday by Major League Baseball. The tax was New York's lowest since 2003 and down from $25.7 million last year, when the Yankees won the World Series.

"Atta baby. And right now we're in the $170s," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said, looking ahead to his 2011 payroll.

Boston is the only other team that will have to pay. The Red Sox exceeded the payroll threshold for the first time since 2007 and owe $1.49 million.

New York's payroll under the conventional method of calculation (salaries and prorated shares of signing bonuses) was $215.1 million this season. Boston was next at $170.7 million. The Phillies were third ($145.5 million), and the World Series champion Giants 11th ($101.4 million). The Rays were 20th ($77.5 million).

More baseball: The Padres finalized their $11.5 million, two-year deal with second baseman Orlando Hudson, who will become the double play partner of former Ray Jason Bartlett. "We'll get a few days early in the spring, … and before you know it me and Bartlett will be right on time," Hudson said. … The Red Sox finalized their two-year, $12 million contract with Bobby Jenks but maintained that the closer role belongs to Jonathan Papelbon.

Horses

Future of Preakness in Md. in doubt after vote

The future of the Preakness at Pimlico is in limbo after an 8-0 vote by Maryland's racing commission rejected a proposal by the owners of Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park to conduct live racing next year. There won't be horse racing at either track in 2011 unless a deal is reached.

"We will continue to explore the legal options available to us," Gov. Martin O'Malley said.

The second leg of the Triple Crown has been run at Pimlico since 1873. Nearly $80 million was bet this year on the race, which was attended by more than 95,000.

The tracks' owners first proposed 146 days of live racing in order to be profitable, but asked horsemen to give up simulcasting revenue, among other concessions, and were turned down. Their proposal to the commission for 78 days of live racing was shot down Tuesday.

ET CETERA

Autos: Formula One team Virgin Racing signed Jerome D'Ambrosio to drive with Timo Glock, replacing Lucas Di Grassi.

Golf: Tiger Woods hit balls and filmed a commercial 10 days after getting a cortisone shot in his right ankle to relieve soreness.

Soccer: Manchester United director Michael Edelson said the American owners — the Glazer family, which also owns the Bucs — eventually will sell the club but that day is a "long way down the line." Reports in Britain and the Persian Gulf have suggested Qatar Holdings is preparing a bid for the club, but the club said it has not been approached and it is not for sale. The Glazers have in the past rebuffed a $2.2 billion offer from a Qatari group. … Enzo Bearzot, who in 1982 coached Italy to its first World Cup triumph in 44 years, died in Milan at age 83 after a long illness.

Times wires

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