Red Sox's Payroll Implies Spending Spree Should Be Imminent As Boston Targets Star Power
Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has endured an unusual offseason in his first year at the helm of baseball operations.
With Shohei Ohtani finally signed, the market is set to heat up after a months-long freeze. The Red Sox have no excuse not to be heavily involved for all of the premier players on the market -- especially the starting pitchers.
Fortunately, the Red Sox's payroll situation implies that some significant moves are on the way.
Boston is roughly $47 million away from reaching the first luxury tax threshold this upcoming season according to Red Sox Payroll after the acquisition of outfielder Tyler O'Neill on Friday.
Not only will the team have to spend at least that much to retain their fanbase but the Red Sox also have no excuse not to surpass that first luxury tax threshold after resetting the tax last season.
With Chris Sale's $25.6 million, Kenley Jansen's $16 million and Chris Martin's $8.75 million set to come off the books after next season, the Red Sox will have $50 million more to play with entering next offseason.
The competitive balance tax for 2024 stands at $237 million with the Red Sox projected to land somewhere in the $190 million range with the current roster.
There is no reason not to sit in the $250-$275 million range by Opening Day, especially considering the plethora of impact free agents on the market that fit the team's needs.
The Red Sox need to lock down Jordan Montgomery this winter -- who they are expected to be heavily pursuing -- and have no excuse not to win the bidding war for Yoshinobu Yamamoto either, one of the best pitchers on the planet. Boston should also continue to be interested in Blake Snell and ultimately land at least two of the aforementioned arms.
Failure to make multiple big splashes this winter would solidify that owner John Henry and the rest of the Fenway Sports Group does not value winning the way they once did.
The little retooling stage is over, it's time to act like a big-market team again.
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