Source: FOX News
Summary
Merrill Kelly has agreed to a two-year contract worth $40 million to return to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Kelly turned down a similar offer from the San Diego Padres due to California’s higher income tax rate, which would have taken a significant portion of his salary. He cited the 13% tax rate on income above $1 million as a key factor in his decision. Kelly has deep ties to Arizona, where he attended high school and played college baseball. He said finding a way back to Arizona was always the priority.
Our Reading
The game followed a familiar script.
Kelly’s decision to return to Arizona was all about the Benjamins, and who can blame him? The desert is calling, and so is the 2.5% state income tax rate.
The Padres’ offer was tempting, but Kelly’s numbers guy ran the numbers, and it just made more sense to come home.
Arizona’s desert landscape won out over San Diego’s coastal setting, and Kelly’s pockets won out over the Padres’ offer.
In the end, Kelly got what he wanted: a deal that didn’t leave him feeling drained from taxes.
Original Observation: This one feels like a classic case of “follow the money.”
