MESA, Ariz. — Chairman Tom Ricketts has said he expects the Cubs’ payroll will be right around the competitive balance tax (CBT).
But what if the Cubs get off to a hot start and look like a potential playoff contender? Will president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer be beholden to staying below the luxury tax?
‘‘You want to be careful going over the CBT because there are penalties,’’ Ricketts said on the first day of full-squad workouts Monday. ‘‘Some of the penalties are merely financial, but over time they become draft-pick slots and those kinds of things.