The AP's Ronald Blum reports the Dodgers are "on track to slice their tax bill by about a quarter this year and the Yankees by two-thirds." The Giants also are "set to slice their payment" in the first season of MLB's CBA, but the Tigers are "slated to pay more despite saying they want to reduce payroll." If a team "doesn't pay tax" in '18, its tax rate would drop to 20% in '19, "allowing perennially high-spending clubs to sign stars at a lower cost." The Dodgers are forecast to pay a $25.1M competitive balance tax this year, down from $43.6M in '15 and $31.8M last year. The Yankees' bill is slated to be just under $9M, their lowest since the tax began in '03 and less than one-third of the $27.4M they owed last season (AP, 4/24).
TRUSTING THE PROCESS: In Atlanta, Jeff Schultz noted Hawks Owner Tony Ressler "acknowledged the Hawks are in 'transition' from the team that went to the Eastern Conference finals only two years ago, but he expected them to win more games" this season. But Ressler "expressed confidence" in President of Basketball Operations and coach Mike Budenholzer and GM Wes Wilcox. He also said that he "doesn't expect any significant changes in the front-office structure." However, Ressler "dismissed any suggestion that Budenholzer is the final decision-maker." He said, "I make the final decision" (AJC.com, 4/22).
BASTION OF SUCCESS: In Chicago, Rich Campbell wrote Fire execs trust new MF Bastian Schweinsteiger to "help lift the team from its two-year stay" at the bottom of MLS. They also "believe he is the spark that will take years of branding and community outreach efforts and ignite a deep, widespread passion for soccer" in Chicago. The Fire acquired Schweinsteiger on a one-year, $4.5M deal last month, and Schweinsteiger's "class on the field helped the Fire go 2-1-1 in his first four matches." Through Schweinsteiger's first two weeks with the Fire, the club "reported 2.5 billion impressions worldwide from all the media coverage and team-produced content about the acquisition." They also "sold more than 150 additional season tickets" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/22).
