In eye-popping late-September news, the Red Sox top brass told reporters that they aim to get under the luxury tax line for the 2020 campaign. Alex Speier of the Boston Globe (Twitter feed) is among those covering the fascinating statements of principal owner John Henry, chairman Tom Werner, and president/CEO Sam Kennedy.
There’s loads to unpack here, but the payroll comment is of particular note, because the Boston organization spent over $230MM in each of the past two seasons and already has over $150MM (as calculated for competitive balance tax purposes) committed for 2020 — before accounting for expensive arbitration raises for Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Eduardo Rodriguez.
Dipping under the luxury line to re-set the tax penalty would mean getting south of $208MM. That’s simply not going to be possible without some notable roster changes, even with a number of players departing via free agency. J.D. Martinez is an obvious wild card here, as he’d open a big chunk of change if he opts out of his deal, but that’d also leave a significant hole in the lineup.
So, does that mean Betts is destined to depart? Not at all, per the organizational leadership. Though Betts has made clear time and time again that he’s not interested in an extension, Werner says the team intends to actively pursue further extension talks this winter — and has already reached out to Betts’s agent to get the ball rolling.
Even if Betts remains on the roster, at least for one more campaign, it’s fair to wonder whether the Red Sox are set to begin some kind of reloading effort. The trio denied that they see the upcoming season as a moment to step back from full competitiveness. It remains difficult to imagine a complete rebuild, but it’s equally hard to imagine how the club will compile a truly competitive roster while also drawing down payroll so significantly.
Needless to say, making the difficult tradeoffs that will be required promises to be quite tricky. While the Red Sox say they have ample confidence in the four executives currently guiding the baseball operations department following Dave Dombrowski’s ouster, they plan to seek an experienced general manager to take the helm. That sets up a fascinating outside hiring search, with the organization seeking a tried-and-true baseball ops leader.
The circumstances of Dombrowski’s departure remain a hot topic, particularly given the notable gap between the event and today’s full-scale media availability. Henry explains that differences arose in the immediate aftermath of last year’s World Series win and couldn’t be bridged throughout the ensuing campaign. While some have wondered whether the upheaval at the top could compromise the Boston organization’s ability to lure whatever exec they set their sights upon, Werner suggested that’s not a concern held internally. “I consider this position to be one of the most coveted in all of sports,” he said.
This will be interesting…
Well Said
Well this could be an indication that they want to keep mookie year after next. They want to get under the tax threshold this coming season so they can afford Mookie and his new contract the season after.
Management may sell it that way but it won’t make sense because if they let mookie become a free agent he is not coming back. He’s gone.
So they either negotiate an extension for mookie this winter and if they don’t… they trade him this winter.
This also means JD Martinez is gone this winter and they wind up paying the young guys Eduardo and others.
Looks like Jackie Bradley is probably gone as well.
Mookie won’t extend. JD may not opt out. His choice.
Anybody think that there will be a strike when the CBA expires? The luxury tax thresholds have turned into a de facto salary cap with Yanks, Dodgers, and now Red Sox trying to get under it. The Cubs could be heading that way if they don’t rebound next year.
Hamels 20 million sobriety ten million off the books
Since Mookie is dead set on testing free agency, the logical choice would be trading him for much-needed prospects and then attempting to re-sign him after next season. Like they did with Lester, and like the Yanks did with Chapman. There’s no benefit in keeping Mookie for next season, it’s not like he’s going to give the Sox a hometown discount if he stays another year with them.
The issue with that plan is that Lester ended up in CHI after the trade not back in BOS. And expecting to get a return like the Yankees did with Chapman or Miller is unrealistic. Those kind of returns for rentals aren’t happening again, completely unique situation
I know that your powers of retention are as wet as a warthog’s backside.
I would think Betts isn’t going anywhere in this offseason.
Why? l would think otherwise. It’s a great time to move him.
Betts fir syndegaard?
As a Mets fan and someone who likes Syndergaard, I would be ecstatic to get Betts for him. The Mets and the Bosox don’t match up well for a deal, however. The Mets lineup is pretty well set, and they have more than they need in the outfield, while both teams are in need of pitching. The Mets in the ‘pen, obviously, and Boston in both the rotation and the bullpen.
If you think the Mets lineup is set enough to pass on getting Betts you are out of your mind.
I think it’s a perfect fit but he would have to sign an extension if I were the Mets. And in all honesty I think it would take more than Thor to get him.
The Mets lineup is set? Really? I would trade that whiner Syndergaard in a second for Betts. Oh I want this guy to be my catcher and if he’s not I’m going to pitch like a little leaguer wah wah wah wah. Obviously the Red Sox aren’t going to be trading Betts for Syndergaard. If I have to go back and forth in contract talks with a player I’d rather it be a five tool outfielder than a spoiled over rated pitcher who seems to pitch like garbage on purpose when he doesn’t get his way. Having your own personal catcher does NOT physically affect a pitcher the way it appears that it affects this clown so yes I believe he’s a hoser.
This mean it’s all but guaranteed that he does
I think he ends up with the White Sox. I say this because we all know how Reinsdorf likes to spend money. When he can get it from taxpayers, that is.
Dude, you’ve got a really weird and lame obsession with hating Jerry Reinsdorf. The article has nothing to do with him. Just stop, seriously. It ruins the comment sections.
Offer Betts 10 years 300 million. If he refuses trade him.
You are kidding? Right?
Why would he “be kidding” I think that’s a pretty decent approach to take with Betts. Offer him a very fair deal 7/210 to 10/300 (I’d prefer not to give him the full 10/300 but could stomach it if that’s what it takes) but any more than that — or if he still won’t sign then yeah I think they should deal him this off-season rather than letting him walk at the end of the year for nothing more than the compensation pick. As for the $ and what was just said in the article… they have to pay Betts close to $30M next year (expected arbitration raise) so signing him long term or not… it really won’t be a relevant factor to their overall payroll and/or getting below the tax line. The only thing they could do to impact their salary # would be to trade him… so as has been stated… offer him the big deal that you think is fair – and if he says no trade him.
Keeping Betts for $300M will drown this team for years to come.
Do the math. They’re cutting payroll now. LOL
Why don’t we just say thank you Mookie for the 1 WS we won with you and let Mookie make his millions elsewhere?
That AAV is basically what Mookie arb will come out to be. It’s not really a crazy idea if that’s what the intention is anyway. Locking up Mookie, if they can, makes it easier to move onto the cost cutting portion.
But the only way to “cut” payroll when it comes to Betts is to trade him… if they simply just retain him through arbitration they aren’t going to save money. So either trading Betts is part of their plan to cut payroll or its an irrelevant factor and thus signing him long term or just signing him through arbitration is essentially a wash… it’s not like he’s a FA and they can decide to just not sign him. He’s on the books for close to $30M next year no matter what.
They can actually let him walk to FA. It’s called a non-tender. They won’t do it unless they’re insane but it is possible to let him walk
Especially with what this article just stated.
Then just trade him
might as well trade him for something knowing he isn’t going to automatically re-sign there. Gotta get something of value other than a draft pick.
The Machado and Harper and Stanton deals of 300 mil plus, those have worked out great?
Keep telling the media that you’re trying to extend him, for PR purposes, but behind closed doors spend your time probing Betts’ position without offering anything tangible. Then when he walks next year, tell everyone you offered him the world and he refused.
Agree with you that the Machado, Harper and Stanton deals were bad for those teams. Disagree with you hiding that you won’t make the same mistake.
For the Red Sox id think about what the orioles and nationals got in return for their players when they left, and if they would want to better themselves and not end up in a scenario like the nationals with not bettering an already competitive roster for the future.
They have tried to extend for years. What part of he wants to test FA don’t people understand? It’s a business for both sides. Nothing wrong with that.
We’d have to hope for JD to opt out AND trade Mookie to get that done. JBJ’s contract is gonna be tricky because if he gets a big enough raise, he could be a non tender candidate.
Or you could trade both of them.
sounds like they are listening to Bill James
God I hope not. The man has been a big part in the ruining of the game. As for the team I have to question where was the rush to extend Sale when they did? The GM’s are scapegoats. Ownership signed off on everything. If JDM leaves, they should definitely try to get under the cap in 2020 because he can also leave after 2020 and the team will need to spend to reload. They are not rebuilding. No reason to gamble and risk attendance loss. NESN loses ratings when the team isn’t good but anyone remember when the team didn’t draw?
yes I remember when the team didn’t draw. and John Henry obviously knows what he’s doing because the stands have been full since he purchased the team. so let’s not go back to the days of Tom Yawkey please
but you do bring up a good point. You have to think that John Henry signed off on all of those expensive contracts
Its been written that dombroski lobbied hard for the Sale deal.
My point was the time to fire DD if that was the direction you took was before allowing the Sale extension given his injury and second half performance history, as to Yawkey, g8752, I’d be happy to go back to him if there was no choice. The man wanted to win and players played hard for him. Listen or watch those interviews with Yaz for example. As for his bigotry/racist allegations, most in my view were overblown as he grew up in a different generation. His Jimmy Fund contributions speak for itself.
JDM is a sharp cookie, don’t expect him to be blind to the trend with slugger salaries. He’ll stay and the Sox will have eat some salary to move him if the Sox expect to get a worthy prospect back.
Or they can keep JDM and move Mookie now and JDM opts out in 2021 if they can’t get anything good for him and they have to pay anything to get rid of him.
Why on earth would he opt out next year if he wouldn’t opt out this year. The longer he waits to opt out the less likely he’s going to. Nobody wants to pay a DH 20+ mil no matter how good a hitter he is.
He makes 2020:$23.75M, 2921:$19.375M,
That’s why.
And yes, he may be overvalued if he opts out.
So he may be better off just staying put.
SG and iverbure: JDM could opt out for a totally different reason in 21. If the team loses Mookie, he could simply want to go to a team he thinks has a better shot of winning. The money he earned already in Boston may not have been what he expected but it’s already enough for his family not to worry.
Please cite the example where a Scott Boras client took a discount at all let alone opting out of a muti year contract to take a discount? Highly unlikely in my opinion.
Disagree on the scapegoat part especially in this case. Sale wasn’t the only bad to date signing made. DD has a history of overpaying vets and that deal was no different
And that’s why DD’s gone.
and I am glad that he is gone
The decision to sign Sale was horrific. After all that went on with him last year, and seeing him pitch just once in spring training before signing the contract, they were very foolish in assuming he would stay healthy. They could have at least waited until the All-Star break before doing the extension. The money they gave Sale would have gone a long way in signing Cole this winter.
It’s sad watching this team fail so badly. 20 games back and now the fire sale
One year. The team collapsed in 11 and then finished last 3 of the next 4 years but most fans only talk about the championships won in 13 and 18.
The championships are an excellent trade off for those years. I’ll take that any day.
It’s called the ups and downs and challenges of baseball. They won the whole thing last year, remember? What do you mean fail so badly, the Yankees are awesome this year that’s why it’s 20 games but they’re still above 500.
Failing badly is a sub 500 record in last place. Some teams do that every year LOL …probably like your team.
No sense in crying about what wasn’t. Split milk.
Look to the future.
That’s what John Henry’s doing.
Tank for tua?
LOL
It’s particularly careless of the Red Sox to again be in this position after the Dodgers bailed them out of a similar bind via the Crawford-Gonzalez trade a few years back. Inexcusable. Trading Betts would be a complete disgrace.
I couldn’t disagree with you more. keeping Mookie Betts for over 300 million dollars would be exactly what you’re saying they did wrong in the past.
You’re okay with moving Betts as a potential salary dump in order to correct the Sox self-inflicted, reckless budgeting? Absurd. The Sox ownership group learned nothing from the Crawford-Gonzalez debacle. I’m totally puzzled by the willingness of some Sox fans to trade Mookie Betts. I’m not naive to the economics at play, it’s a matter of front office accountability.
No, it’s a matter of making money and winning and making even more money later. Keeping Betts for $300M will drown this team for years. to come
30 Parks I love Mookie … but you are wrong if you consider this a salary dump. He has repeatedly stated he wants to go to Free Agency – and if he walks after next year – the Sox get NOTHING back. If the Sox do not think they can resign him… they definitely should look at trading him. Restock their farm system….
So, you’re expecting a haul in return for Betts? Sox have no leverage, none, no team will pony-up a reasonable package for Betts given his desire for free agency. My point is that Sox ownership had a duty to recognize the talent they have in Betts and they should have been diligent in maintaining a reasonable salary structure in order to be bidders in retaining Mookie. The Sox did no such thing, they again spent recklessly and will, potentially, lose Betts as a result. It’s an inexcusable error in judgement to use Betts as the sacrificial lamb in order to balance the books. This sudden dose of fiscal restraint is misleading and disgraceful.
What are you expecting in return for Betts? Which team will pay-up in the face of Mookie’s desire for free agency? A trade of Betts will accomplish nothing. The Sox painted themselves into a corner – again.
Yes I am… but the haul is anything better than nothing. Mookie is am amazing player, but you can not have a contender year in and year out with a player making 300M (30M a year). I do believe they can get a couple of decent (one outstanding) pitching prospects for him as there are many teams that would love to have Mookie for a year and convince him to stay.
To your comment concerning the Sox ownership – they have EVERY year approached Mookie to sign an extension. What more do you expect them to do? Mookie has been on record as stating this and it was his preference to continue to go year in and year out. Your entire arguement is wrong and inaccurate.
The phantom team that will pay Mookie $300M will give it all up for him. Or so Mookie thinks.
LOL
Just think of it this way, who would outbid Boston and where do salaries go if Boston backs off outbidding themself?
It’s become very clear to anyone paying attention that Mookie Betts does not want to play in Boston. He’s done there. He’s going for big dollars from some high paying team. That’s why we’re trading him. The writing’s on the wall.
I completely disagree… for a player the caliber of Betts there will be a pretty decent market even if the acquiring team risks losing him to FA. I’m not saying they’ll get as much as they would if he were under contract for several more years… but he also is valuable enough that teams will be interested should he be made available. Additionally a team with financial flexibility and/or the intention of trying to resign him after next year may feel that making a move for him now will give them a leg up to signing him vs just waiting for him to reach (if he does) FA. There’s no question that there would be a strong market for Betts if the Sox decide to go that route (and personally I think they should — unless he has a change of heart and decides to sign an extension with them this off-season at a decent enough price)
That’s not true… he’s more than happy playing in Boston — he’s just greedy lol. Not even saying that as an insult it’s just true. He wants to be a FA and get top dollar which is entirely his right. But he’s not specifically looking for the $ from one team or another. I think he’s the type of guy (and he’s also won WS already so winning probably isn’t his #1 priority anymore) that will sign with whatever team offers him the most $
Guess I think you’re right he’s probably okay in Boston but he knows he’s gone because he knows the Red Sox are not going to give him outlandish dollars.
Their mistake several years ago wasn’t the spending, it was the players spent on. Betts is no Crawford. He’s a top 5 – 10 (at worst) player.
It is the smart thing to do. He wants to be a FA. Why not get something proven for him?
Now you are seeing why John Henry became rich. he does know how to add and he does know how to make money. no one can say that he didn’t try as he had the highest payroll in baseball for the last 2 seasons and it just goes to show you that money can’t buy you a championship every year that you actually have to work to find quality players at a reasonable price.
Bring in Billy Beane & watch the magic happen
No thanks
He wins championships every year!
Maybe the money issue is why they fired Theo, Tito, Farrell, n DD before the time was coming to give them a raise
what the hell are you talking about? one of the managers are general managers have a 300 million dollar contract
Meaning they cut corners where they can.
what the heck are you talking about? none of the managers or general managers had a 200 million dollar plus contract like what Price got or Mookie wants.
If I’m JD Martinez and reading this there’s no way I’d opt out. The Sox would just let him walk and that’s one of the only big suitors for him.
You are 100% right. That’s why they trade him.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see the Red Sox and White Sox hook up on some big name trades. JDM would fit the ChiSox timeline and plans and upper limit for salary risk.
g8, your approach would be to dismantle the team and be in perpetual rebuild? Come on, man.
Did I miss something?
Tampa and Oakland did that after last year and they made the playoffs.
Come to think of it both teams are in perpetual rebuild and both teams are usually competitive.
If you owned the Red Sox wouldn’t you rather be in the playoffs for 25% of the current payroll?
I’m assuming Pablo Sandoval, Rusney Castillo and Dustin Pedroia are still on the payroll next year?????
……and the Price, Sale and Eovaldi contracts are going to haunt them for the foreseeable future.
Trade Bradley if you can and getting Moreland and Pearce off the books and replacing them with Chavis will save a few shekels.
Pablo for the buyout, everyone else, yes
Rusney is still on the payroll for next year, but I don’t believe his salary counts toward the luxury tax since he’s not on the 40-man roster. That’s why they haven’t brought him back up to the majors.
correct. if rusney were to be put back on the 40 man, not only would his salary count towards the tax, but even if they took him off again, would still be on the hook for all of it (both in terms of his actually salary and for luxury tax purposes)
Now, there’s a selling point while trying to hired a new GM. Oh, we’re cutting payroll this year to reset the Lux. tax. and you’ll probably have to trade some pieces, too.
Exactly. This is a conceptual mess. How does ownership think it is going to sell a “big-name outsider” on GM/Pres of BB Ops while dangling a mandate to get under the luxury tax level in the first year? That’s why it has seemed for a few weeks that one of the 4 current stand-ins would be elevated to GM to preside over the cost-cutting in the form of non-tenders and trades. Meanwhile,where are the young players coming through the pipeline to fill positions inexpensively? For all the times I’ve read that the Sox develop position players well (and pitchers poorly), where are they? Chavis? Ugh. (Yes, I’ve heard of Bogaerts et al. The point is a good club has them arriving on a nearly annual basis.)
Most guys would take it as a challenge to rebuild the roster make trades dump the big salaries bring in reasonable contracts. We as fans do it on this site all day long everyday lol. It’s fun, somebody will love to jump on that opportunity to run the Red Sox.
Yes, it’s the conceptual mess DD left them in.
That’s why they fired DD.
If you’re a new GM you have nowhere to go but up.
You can blame your lack of contention on DD.
And if you turn it around you’re a genius.
If JDM opts out, which i don’t believe he will, then they should go after Castellanos as a replacement. That would fill the DH role and save money.
I don’t see Betts being traded, unless they fall out of it early next season and they trade him at the deadline.
The Sale & Price contracts have hog-tied this team more than any other factor. The dead money on Pedroia is a hindrance as well.
They will need either a 1st or 2nd baseman, depending on Chavis’ position and health.
They have 9 arb cases entering the off season. A few might be non-tendered, but there will still be significant raises in that area.
It’s a tough road they plan on traveling.
If JDM opts out, I don’t see them replacing him with a poor man’s substitute. Castellanos will Command something like 4/45 or 6/60 and even that won’t help get the Red Sox to their goal.
Check out the payroll tax tracker for 2020. You will see they can get under $208M.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mVYyinHlYUI0gE98Ag…
Why would you say this? Now JD wont optout
They can get something for him if he doesn’t opt out.
John Henry could sell the Red Sox for $3.2 B
Then he could buy the Tampa Bay Rays for $1 B.
He could walk with $2 B and have a playoff team.
forbes.com/mlb-valuations/list/#tab:overall
Buy low sell high. Right?
I think the Sox make money with all their TV stuff. Not sure the Rays make money… he might have to feed it year in year out. Kind of like a bad real estate deal with negative cash flow. Do you want an expensive building on Boardwalk or a cheap building on a lesser Street?
Every baseball team makes money. Just some more than others. Don’t get it twisted Even though nobody goes to games in Tampa the team makes more than enough off their TV contracts. All teams do.
It’s the owners that will be hurt by a salary cap not the players. If a salary cap gets put in the game than the cheap owners that don’t put any money back into their product would be forced to have a salary basement and that’s what teams don’t want. That and for a cap the teams would be forced to open their books.
I understand Boston, NY, Philly, San Fran, LA, Chi ets are all bigger markets than say Tampa, KC or Pitt but these larger market teams are paying more in luxury tax penalties than the smaller market clubs pay in total operating costs.
It can’t be that much of a difference.
If there’s not much of a difference why are the Red Sox worth 3 times more than the Tampa Rays?
The Sale, Eovaldi and Price contracts are albatrosses. There is $84 million in those three. Pedroia is a dead $13 million as well as $5 million for Panda and $2 million for Manny Ramirez. Panda does drop from $19 to $5 at least. a savings of $14 million.
That is $95 million tied to only 3 active players and all 3 have health issues.
Panda, Porcello, Nunez, Thornburg, Moreland, Pearce is a cut of $55 million. If JD opts out that is another $21 million off. If they deal Betts it is another $20 million + based on arbitration.
They are looking to be at a payroll of $172 million before arbitration and assuming JD and Betts stick. Assuming that is the team they have $36 million before they hit the threshold. I don’t see it unless Betts is dealt and/or JD opts out and it frees another $42 million.
I still think the smart play is to trade Betts IF there is a worthwhile deal out there.
Best scenario JD opts out, Ive said that since the day he signed. Get 2 great years, he opts out and goes somewhere else. Even if he doesnt, who deserves an arb raise, Mookie yes but not by much, ERod yes, all others no. Still have room and not a lot of holes to fill, SP has to bounce back.
JD will not opt out, … unless DD lands a GM gig somewhere. He prefers teams with $$$$$$ and lots of top prospects.
I’m sure it irks them that Tampa bay and Oakland are in the playoffs with their low payroll and they are not
Yes, it definitely must. Wouldn’t it irk you?
Makes you realize you’re on the wrong road.
And maybe they’re on a better one.
At least they won last year. 29 other teams can’t say that
I don’t think so. They only thing that irks them is that the Yankees are going to win it all this year if Houston doesn’t. They couldn’t care less about Tampa Bay or Oakland fighting it out in a wild-card game.
Doubt they care that much if Yanks get the first in a decade after they have 2.
They will always care and compete against the Yankees. It’s been a big-time rivalry for the last hundred plus years. One championship for the Yankees is one too many.
Not enough to overreact and make dumb decisions. Easy to say we have more champioships in the 21st Century and not care that much.
I bet they could care less. Sun shines on a dogs but some days. Boston just last year had an amazing year and won a World Series and those franchises can say that when?
Spitballing here but I bet they go with Sig Mejdal or Matt Arnold.
Without including Sandoval and his $22M. buyout they can reduce payroll by at least $70M for 2020. Iif they extract themselves from the following contracts: Pearce ($6M), Holt ($3.6M), Pedroia ($15M), Porcello ($21M), Chacin ($7.75M), Owings ($ ($3M), Cashner ($8M), and Castillo $10.5M), they should be in good shape. There is no doubt that Pedey cannot play because of his bad knees. He has to retire rather than try to hang around in the dugout “sucking the well dry”. Pearce got his $6M bonus for his wonderful play during the playoffs in 2018.. Now bye-bye Stevo.. Porcello, despite winning 15 in 2019, is so inconsistent he has to be shown the door or take a 50% cut in pay on a one-year deal. Chacin, Owings and Cashner, …well, it was nice to meet you guys. Good luck in finding work elsewhere.
We all know that the real cause of the Red Sox drop off in wins in 2019, is the lack of performance from their two aces,,,,Sale and Price. who, combined, went 13-16 instead of 40-20, as they were paid to do. If these guys come back, the Red Sox will be fighting for their 6th world series crown in 2020
Can’t save that much. Pedey is a guaranteed contract, Castillo doesn’t even count unless they put him on the 40 man, and they aren’t paying Owens and Chacin those numbers. The good news is nobody but ERod really deserves a big arb raise so from $150m they have room. You are correct that the big contract rotation has to step back up. Fill in 1B, 2B and 5th starter with options like Chavis, Dalbec, Travis, M Hernandez, Chatham, D Hernandez, Wright, Houck, Shawaryn. Team is primed for a bounceback at a salary under the cap.
Wow!..bounceback using your plan? Not in 2020 using those b list players!
And, it doesn’t matter that they took Rusney off the 40 man except for the lux tax , as they’re still paying him a load….$13.5 million to play for Pawtucket….think John Henry doesn’t go ouch when he things about that? Rich people didn’t get rich giving away money for zero performance contribution.
The fact you don’t understand Castillo not counting against the luxury tax says all we need to know about your post. Just for further embarrassment, look at what the Red Sox got from those positions this year and how easily those options could replace those numbers. They are still a top offense and their 5th starter spot(and most of their rotation) was beyond bad. A bounceback is easy to predict.
Too many injury risks in the rotation to envision a bounce back as currently constructed if you’re being objective. Can it happen? Of course. 2013 is a prime sample of unexpected bliss when every move goes right. Last year too but the team was already one of the top teams in the league and then everything other than Kimbrel and Sale went perfectly in the second half. I’m not throwing in the towel for next year but the next GM has work to do as does the team’s medical staff. Rodriguez has to stay healthy and two of Sale, Price and Eolvaldi have to get and stay in the rotation.
A bounce back doesn’t have to mean perfect health, just from what they did this year and that should be easy to do. Sale, Price, Eovaldi need to win 10-15 more games than they did this year which isn’t asking a lot. In doing so that stabilization in the front also improves the bullpen that pitched far too much in 2019.
Wow!
Most in the know have cited several other reasons for their regression this year other than just Sale and Price failing to achieve as they did in 2018l
Ownership has come out and plainly said, they Are going to work to get under the lux tax in 2020, which most likely means that Mookie or JD, or both will be playing somewhere else next year…that’s a significant part of the offense……think that plus the other reasons for this years fail put a real stinger into your plan.
Also, citing your plan again hawkny if your referring to Rusney Castillo, unless he opts out, which he would be insane to do, he is guaranteed his salary through the 2020 season. And, his number for 2020 is $13.5 million not $10.5 million further buying your plan.
Pedroia should take one for the team and retire. 13MM saved right there.
Pedey took a below market deal saving the team money for years.
Next he sacrificed his body on the field giving it all he had, and thats before getting spiked in the knee and winding up with those permanent life altering effects.
He earned the balance of his contract 10x over, and should be allowed to collect it.
Pretend it’s deferred money from the early years if it allows you to sleep better at night
Nooooo, Pedroia needs to keep cashing the checks that are given due to the contract that was signed. “Take one for the team” that’s hilarious. As if any team would taken one for the player
I think the Phillies would be a good place for Mookie to get traded to. He would add a lot to the lineup and help out the outfield. The Phillies have some decent young prospects and some veteran inexpensive pitchers. Velasquez… Eflin and maybe a couple prospects and he could be had. That would give the Red sox a couple inning eaters at the back of the rotation. Personally I think that’s an overpay for one year of Betts, but the Red Sox are going to ask for a lot.
Well I guess mookie ain’t going to an NL team.
It’s not that easy to trade Betts and get enough value for him. That’s not because he’s not great, He’s an incredible player, but he’s going to make a fortune in arbitration. I understand he’s likely to produce surplus value, but his absolute dollar cost really only puts him on a handful of teams who can afford it and are playoff contenders. How much do you give up for one year of Mookie plus a draft pick? I don’t know if Boston can accept anything but a very attractive deal.
The Red Sox want you to believe they can’t afford to keep their good players. This is fine.
They’re trying to avoid the repeater tax which grows and grows. They pay out big money contracts all the time, what are you talkin about?
John Henry is rich
Okay I get you. Word games and Mind Games. Yep I agree.
The Sox are paying big bucks to keep their own players. Vazquez, Pedroia, Bogaerts, Devers, Benintendi, JBJ, Betts, ERod, Workman, Barnes. Fine ERod was a trade. Cant say they don’t want to pay guys that came up as Sox.
if the goal is to reset the tax penalty like the yankees did a few years back I have less of a problem with this. It might be that the red sox evaluated their situation and realized that with the contracts they have on the books and the basically empty farm system that it would take a soft rebuild/reset to get back to contention.
Good assessment.
Good assessment ace
If they trade Betts it will be for minor league prospects to rebuild their farm system. That will be one bat down. Let JD go that will be 2 bats gone. I am not sure their batting power will be WS compatible. NY will still have the bats. Need more than just pitchers. BTW I am guessing Betts will be looking for approx 10 years at $400 mill…good luck Henry.
Maybe they could convince PHI to trade Harper for Mookie and eat 40-50% of their salary for Harper. LOL
That’s where we’ll be if we give Mookie $400M.
If you think there is no team out there (like NYY) or others that would not jump at Betts for 10 years $400 mill then I need to be lol at you.. Harper got a ton coming off a crappy year. Betts has been a solid all-star throughout. If the RedSox lose either or both Betts , Martinez they will find it hard to repeat as WS Champs,….especially with the starting pitchers and bullpen they have.
Guess we’ll have to LOL at each other and see what happens to the Red Sox and all the teams that follow your advice and pay 10 years $400 M to just one player.
Jeffrey, my eyes didn’t “pop” when I read this. Did you just have a lot of caffeine or something?
If they are aim to go under the luxury tax line, Betts is gone. I am sure their intention is too look for players to invent in like Betts. However, for Betts perspective money is good but so is glory and if you can’t afford to put a winning team on the field because you wanna lower your spending, why would he re-up. I look for Betts go to free agency and look for a young team where the prospect have already been on the field flourishing in the MLB level. that being said: Padres, Angels, Texas, Toronto, Braves, and Florida. All teams have more upside in putting a contending team with prospect that have show major upside. Obviously some of these teams are a bit farther stretch than others.
Could the Red Sox and the Dodgers get together again for another blockbuster trade centering around Betts?
I can certainly see this. Dodgers sure have the money and the farm.
Theoretically, yes. In actuality probably not. I don’t see the Dodgers going out of their way to compromise the financial flexibility they worked so hard to create with a new, especially with a new CBA forthcoming and knowing Seager and Bellinger are going to get paid. It depends on what you consider a blockbuster. Is it spare parts/pieces that don’t necessarily fit in their future, for Betts? I.E. trading the Maeda’s, Stripling’s, Pollock’s, probably also why the Sox’s would loathe to pull the trigger and they would say no.
As we’ve seen time and time again the Dodgers don’t value OFs/COF the same. So no I don’t see it, especially if they quite honestly can fill a gaping hole in their farm, and future that they have at 3rd. So blockbuster for a year of Betts no. Just doesn’t seem likely with a pretty deep OF. Even more doubtful if you think the Dodgers are also going to eat long term money to acquire Betts.
Two things to unpack here.
1) the luxury tax commentary is related entirely to Mookie. If the sox are under the threshold, then their compensatory pick when he declines the QO is the last pick of Comp B or 1st pick of Round 2 effectively speaking. Big difference from round 4, and, implies the team expects to retain him for 2020.
2) any revenue sharing team that trades for Mookie before opening day gains athe last pick of Round 1/1st pick of Comp A effectively, so, that should be calculated into the acquisition cost they give up to get him. (With remaining non-lux tax teams getting that post Comp B selection).
For a majority of clubs out there, that means you’re trading for 1yr of elite RF and basically a 1st round pick. THAT has value, even at 25m
With Atlanta having a young rotation moving forward and not making any major money yet plus the money of Kuechel, O’Day, possibly Donaldson all coming off the books and 2 stars already locked into team friendly deals any chance Price would be moved to Atlanta ???
Boston would still need to either eat a small portion of the contract or take some contracts back in the deal.
I don’t know how much/long Price contract is but Atlanta needs a big time pitcher to lead these young kids in the rotation.
Price
Soroka
Folty
Fried
Anderson
That would be a helluva staff moving forward
Yeah looking up Price’s contract and numbers this year I now know I had a stupid idea.
Back on the Atlanta better sign MadBum bandwagon !!!
Braves dont want nor do they need Price. The core will be 1 year more mature and there is plenty of stock coming up – see Ian Anderson. These “young kids” are moving closer to mid 20s when they will be hitting peak. Conversely, Price will be tailing off. MadBum isnt coming. His stats are going the wrong way – AA is too sharp to fall for that. AA is going to step up for Donaldson .. he isnt going anywhere. Big reason why Braves playing post season. Kuechel likely back too – my sense is he likes it here.
Whomever the new GM will be, I hope he does not mind being hated by Sox fans. How can he win ?
Sox fans are in for a rude awakening that winning like this does not happen consistently and is cyclical. Nature of the beast. Ownership knows this and is going to break it down – and they would be smart too. Think of Celtics after Bird/Parrish/McHale left. Dry spell for a while and not sure the minor league pipeline will impact the MLB team anytime soon. Next 5 years will be less than pleasant is my prediction.
there is one lingering unexplained question that I request a gutsy reported ask John Henry.” why did you spend all of that money in 2019 on numerous new contracts knowing you were going to get under the competitive balance tax in 2020?”
I find it hard to believe that Dave Dombrowski would have the authority to sign off on all of those contracts and that level of money without John Henry signing off on all of it
The solution to cutting Boston payroll could be to unload David Price for whatever you could get for him.
Price makes the most sense to unload. Why?
Because both JDM and Mookie will be trying to have a great 2020.
JDM can opt out after 2019 and Mookie is a FA after 2019.
Price has no incentive to excel in 2020.
Perhaps a change of venue would inspire him to show he still has it and that Boston was wrong for unloading him.
He is clearly a clubhouse cancer in Boston
Maybe he just needs a change as he can be a great pitcher when he wants to be.
Surprised it all fell on DD and not on Alex Cora. Surprised no one mentioned racial animus from the White House visit boycotts as a possible concern for the team chemistry decline.
Tough to calculate which salaries (or staff) to ship out without knowing more about the inner workings of the team’s clubhouse chemistry. This decline was too sharp to hinge solely on a handful of individual off-years.
Most teams — but not all — are learning that one year rentals are damned stupid. Red Sox should deal Betts to whichever team publicly pledges to spend “stupid money” this winter.
Of course everyone knows it was the White House trip that cased all of the Red Sox mess in 2019. Only kidding. LOL
One year rentals make a great deal of sense especially if you can get them for practically nothing from a desperate team. Any guess as to whom I’m talking about? You also have a 1 year limit on an expensive player imploding or being injured.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to pin the decline on this year. Starting Pitching.
Price, Sale, Eovaldi and Porcello were the cause due to injury and under-performance. They also lost the team closer.
Red Sox Ownership is a dumpster fire.
Questions any experienced GM candidates will have include:
Why did you fire,, scare off, scapegoat multiple top level, respected Front Office Executives like Dombrowski (future Hall of Famer), Cherington, Epstein and others?!
Red Sox will have trouble attracting top experienced President/GM talent who know that no matter how good and successful they would perform, that they would also be thrown under the bus at midnight when they least expected it.
Red Sox job will most likely be filled by an internal promotion….
Sam Kennedy’s fingerprints are all over the latest Red Sox Front Office Coup…
Please, Please Boston…..Please pick John Mozeliak as your head of baseball operations?!?!?!?
He’d be a great choice but I doubt St. Louis would let him go.