So much for the lean hope that the Cubs and Blue Jays could get together on a swap of bad contracts:
Brito, 19, hit .288/.352/.489 in rookie ball last year. He ranks 23rd among Dodgers prospects per MLB Pipeline
Sopko, 24, spent last year at high A and AA. He posted a 3.90 ERA with 121 Ks compared to 27 walks in 117.2 total innings. Wasn't among Dodgers' top 30 prospects
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) January 11, 2019
The financial particulars aren’t out yet, but by my math, since Martin is making $20 million in actual money this year, and since the AAV of his deal is just $16.4 million, if the Blue Jays include $16.4 million or more in this trade, the luxury tax payroll hit for the Dodgers … will be zero. He’d cost the Dodgers $3.6 million in actual salary, but it’ll be like Martin is free for luxury tax purposes. And even if the Dodgers wind up paying more like $5 million for Martin, that’s still barely any luxury tax payroll.
The Dodgers make these kind of accounting moves all the time, so I’m expecting to see it again.
UPDATE: I was right!
The #Bluejays are paying $16.4 million of remaining $20 million of Russell Martin’s contract, #Jays say. It means they will be paying $54 million this year to players to NOT play for them including Troy Tulowitzki with #Yankees
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 11, 2019
So, that’s a zero cost move for the Dodgers for luxury tax purposes. Le sigh. Good on them.