We know that the California legislature, which has had a Democrat supermajority for years, proposes terrible legislation that often ends up hurting working and middle-class people, while focusing on all the wrong things, such as loosening sentences for criminals. Now, their insane policies are pushing athletes away from playing for California sports teams.
Former Texas Rangers pitcher Merrill Kelly, who has spent most of his career in Arizona with the Diamondbacks, had an offer on the table by the San Diego Padres, which it seemed like he was going to accept. He later decided to pass on the offer and rejoin the Diamondbacks due to California's insane tax policy, which would have taxed Kelly over two million dollars. He ended up signing a two-year, $40 million deal with the Diamondbacks and will be keeping nearly $2.5 million more by signing with Arizona than with San Diego.
Kelly told Foul Territory:
There was a lot of factors that went into the three-year deal; it was definitely enticing. It definitely made the decision a lot harder to come back here, but once Arizona got to the number that they did, it made a lot more sense to come back here. I love San Diego. It's just, like I said, they take too much money. The taxes over there are unbelievable. We had a numbers guy run the numbers, and it just made more sense to come here.
Merrill Kelly reveals he had a three-year offer from the Padres on the table.
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) February 26, 2026
"It definitely made the decision to come back here a lot harder." pic.twitter.com/Da7oGkO7dv
Viva, Las Vegas: Wealthy Californians Bolt to Nevada Over Looming Tax Hit
Some of these sports owners support Democrats, some support Republicans, and some remain apolitical. But there is going to come a time when sports owners will start campaigning against politicians who raise taxes and/or don't work to reduce the tax burden on residents, because at the end of the day, it impacts the owners' bottom line as well.
...The California Padres thought that they had secured Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly with an offer of $40 million for just two years. He said no. The reason? California’s ruinous tax burden is fueling an exodus of wealthy taxpayers and businesses from the state.
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) March 1, 2026
California officials are reportedly scrambling after MLB pitcher Merrill Kelly declined a Padres offer, citing the state’s tax rate, a development insiders say has now forced the franchise to begin scouting talent in neighboring states where paychecks survive longer than six… pic.twitter.com/HkO1DeAyQo
— Mike Netter (@nettermike) March 1, 2026
Some might be wondering how Dodgers phenom Shohei Ohtani signed with the Angels and then the Dodgers, with the insane taxes he would have to pay, especially on the Dodgers, signing the 10-year, $700 million deal. He will take the overwhelming majority of that $700 million when his tenure with the Dodgers is up, and he likely retires in Japan, as he has stated in the past. Meaning, he won't be paying the egregious taxes for the bulk of his contract.
Shohei Ohtani's $700 million contract calls for him to be paid only $2 million a year for the next 10 seasons, with $680 million deferred until the end of the deal, sources confirm to ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 11, 2023
The CBT hit on the contract is going to be around $46 million, a huge discount for L.A.
In the NL West, which both the Padres and Diamondbacks are part of, the Los Angeles Dodgers remain better than ever and are favored to win the division for another year. By getting Kelly, the Padres would have added him to a pitching rotation that mainly consists of Michael King, Nick Pivetta, German Marquez, and Joe Musgrove. They acquired Canning during the off-season, while losing Yu Darvish to retirement. Canning's stint with the New York Mets was short-lived after his tenure with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Despite their impressive batters, led by Fernando Tatis Jr., their lackluster pitching rotation leaves them needing more dominant pitching to compete with star-studded offenses like the Dodgers. It could be only a matter of time until other athletes decide to sign elsewhere due to the ridiculous taxes by Democrat politicians, which would cost teams and sports owners championships, as well as not sell out their home games due to the lack of stars, which, of course, also affects their bottom line.
