Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Fourth-place Mets hit with record luxury tax bill

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The New York Mets must paya record luxury tax of nearly$101 million after a fourth-place finish in their among division, an unpreceden­ted eight teams that owe the penalty for the 2023 season.

Owner Steve Cohen’s Mets finishedwi­th a tax payroll of $374.7 million, according to figures finalized by Major League Baseball on Thursday and obtained by The Associated Press. That topped the previous high of $291.1 million by the 2015 Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Mets’ tax bill came to $100,781,932 after they finished fourth in the NL East at 75-87in the most expensive flop in baseball history. That morethan doubled the prior high of $43.6 million by the 2015Dodger­s.

Otherteams owing tax money are San Diego ($39.7 million), the New York Yankees ($32.4 million), the Dodgers ($19.4 million), Philadelph­ia ($6.98 million), Toronto ($5.5 million), Atlanta ($3.2million) and World Series champion Texas ($1.8 million). The Blue Jays, Braves and Rangers are paying tax for the first time.

The Yankees have been taxed just under $390 million sinc

Since the penalties began in2003, 43% of the $901 million total, followed by the Dodgers at $234 million. Fourteen of 30 teams have owed tax over the two decades.

More baseball

SanDiego signed Japanese

freeagent pitcher Yuki Matsuito a $28 million, five-year contract. Matsui, a 5-foot-8 left-hander,was a a five-time All-Starfor the Tohoku RakutenGol­den Eagles and ledthe league in saves in 2019, 2022and 2023. He has a 2.40 careerERA, 236 saves and a 1.11 WHIPin Nippon Profession­al Baseball.

Boxing

Joseph Parker stunned Deon tay Wil de rina unanimous decision in weight fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Parker, 31, was a big under dog according to the formerworl­d champion but

looked like the better fighter throughout.PHe improved to 34-3-0.

Golf

The 2024 edition of the Masters could be one of the smallest in years depending on the first three months of the PGA Tour season. With no significan­t tournament­s the rest of the year, it looks as though 11 players who finish in the top 50 will be added to the field. That would bring the field to 77 players among those expected to compete.

•Kevin Kisner is starting thenew year at Kapalua for

the sixth time, only this time withou this clubs. NBC is going to try him out in the broadcast booth for the season-opening Sentry as it continuest­o search for a replacemen­t for Paul Azinger.

Soccer

Arsenal stayed on top of the English Premier League after holding on to draw Liverpool1-1 in Liverpool, England. Arsenal led through Gabriel’s fourth-minute header but Mohamed Salah evened the score in the 29th. Salah’s 15 1st Premier League goal moved him to 10th on the all-time list.

 ?? Richard Pelham/Getty Images ?? HOLIDAY DELIVERY Frank Sanchez, right, punches Junior Fa in a heavyweigh­t fight Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Sanchez scored a seventh-round knockout after three knockdowns of Fa.
Richard Pelham/Getty Images HOLIDAY DELIVERY Frank Sanchez, right, punches Junior Fa in a heavyweigh­t fight Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Sanchez scored a seventh-round knockout after three knockdowns of Fa.

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