FILE - In this Nov. 28, 2012 file photo, baseball union head Michael Weiner speaks during a news conference in New York. Weiner says, Monday Feb. 25, 2013, there's active discussion about increasing the penalties for violating baseball's drug testing program. Weiner says players have very little patience for seeing their peers try to cheat the system. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

MARK DIDTLER
Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Count union head Michael Weiner among those skeptical of the New York Yankees' stated plan to reduce payroll next year.

Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner says the team wants to get under the $189 million luxury tax threshold in 2014. That means the player payroll would have to be about $178 million at most, using average annual values of contracts, since the total for the tax will include at least $11 million in benefits such as the pension plan.

Says Weiner: "I imagine that Mr. Steinbrenner is sincere when he says that, but like a lot of things, I'll believe it when I see it."

New York has paid $224.6 million in luxury tax since the current system began in 2003, including $19.3 million for 2012.

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