LA Dodgers owe steepest luxury tax

NEW YORK — The Los Angeles Dodgers will pay baseball’s highest luxury tax for the fourth straight year and the New York Yankees owe a penalty for a 15th consecutive season, streaks that could end as the sport’s biggest spenders slash payroll for 2018.

The Dodgers owe $36.2 million, according to final figures compiled by the commissioner’s office and obtained by The Associated Press. That raises their five-year tax total to nearly $150 million.

New York was second at $15.7 million, its lowest amount since 2011 but a figure that increased its total since the tax began to $341 million. San Francisco was next at $4.1 million, followed by Detroit at almost $3.7 million and Washington — which is paying tax for the first time — at just under $1.45 million.

The Dodgers and Yankees vow to get below next year’s tax threshold of $197 million. That would reset their base tax rate from 50 percent to 20 percent going into the 2018-19 offseason.

JETER: Derek Jeter fielded questions from about 200 Miami Marlins season-ticket holders Tuesday night at Marlins Park, many upset about the direction of the team under a new ownership group led by Jeter.

He told them the Marlins traded major league home run champ Giancarlo Stanton, stolen base champ Dee Gordon and All-Star left fielder Marcell Ozuna for prospects because an affordable payroll and stronger farm system is the only path to sustained success.

Jeter calmly answered questions until there were no more, and after the 90-minute session, he said he appreciated the fans’ feedback — positive and negative.