SAN DIEGO – State income tax rates could play a role in which offer Jon Lester takes.
The Red Sox are in good position in that regard with the state income tax rate in Massachusetts at 5.2 percent, while the Illinois rate – the Chicago Cubs are among the bidders for Lester – is an even better 5 percent. The Dodgers and Giants will likely have to offer more money because the California tax rate is 13.3 percent, which is the highest in the country.
So if the Cubs and Red Sox offer $140 million for example, the California teams would have to come in at some $10 million or so more to match the Red Sox or Cubs offers.
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