Baseball Notes: Yanks miss playoffs, but have higher tax bill

The New York Yankees not only failed to make the playoffs this season, but also were hit with their highest luxury tax in three years.

The Yankees were assessed $26.9 million by the commissioner's office yesterday, up from $23.9 million last year.

This was their biggest bill since 2005, when they paid nearly $34 million.

The Detroit Tigers, who also failed to qualify for the postseason, are the only other team that must pay the tax and owe $1.3 million to the commissioner's office.

New York's payroll was $222.2 million, and Detroit's second at $160.8 million, for the purpose of the tax.

The Yankees also re-signed righthander Chien-Ming Wang to a one-year, $5 million contract, avoiding salary arbitration.

Wang, 28, was 8-2 with a 4.07 ERA in 15 starts last season. He hurt his foot while running the bases at Houston in mid-June and missed the rest of the season.

Pirates.

Catcher Ryan Doumit and Pittsburgh agreed to a three-year, $11.5 million contract that includes a club option that could make the deal worth $26.5 million over five seasons.

Doumit reached the accord less than a year after becoming the Pirates' starting catcher.

He hit .318, with 15 home runs and 69 RBIs, in 431 at-bats after beating out former starter Ronny Paulino early in the year. Paulino has since been dealt to the Phillies.

Nationals.

Free-agent starting pitcher Daniel Cabrera and Washington have reached a preliminary agreement on a one-year contract, pending a physical. He was 8-10 for Baltimore in 2008.

Minor-league suspensions.

Yankees catcher Damian Taveras and Orioles pitcher Ambiorix Suero were suspended for 50 games each after positive tests for banned performance-enhancing substances under baseball's minor-league program.