Red Sox willing to exceed highest luxury-tax threshold at trade deadline
The team with the highest payroll in baseball won't have any financial restrictions if it wishes to add before the non-waiver trade deadline.
Boston Red Sox president Sam Kennedy said Tuesday that ownership is willing to exceed the $237-million luxury-tax threshold if it means adding a piece they feel can help get them to the World Series.
“There's a willingness from our bosses," Kennedy told Evan Drellich of NBC Sports. "John (Henry) and Tom (Werner) have made very clear to me and to Dave (Dombrowski): Look, let's see how the market develops, and we want to do what it takes to try and win a fourth World Series championship. I don't know how the market's going to play out, but we're getting close here.
"But there would be a willingness to do that if it meant, in our estimation, making a decision that could really help put us over the edge, over the top, this year and the postseason. You know, we had the taste of October the last two years. There's no question, we're hungry for October success."
The Red Sox have roughly $233 million committed in salary this season, according to Cots Baseball Contracts, leaving them little room to take on salary without going over the highest threshold. If Boston exceeds the $237 million mark they will be forced to pay a 62.5 percent tax on every dollar spent over that threshold and would pick 10 spots lower in next year's first-year player draft.
Despite owning the best record in the majors, the Red Sox do have some needs ahead of the July 31 deadline. The club has been linked to a number of relievers, as well as Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas. Boston could also look to acquire a starting pitcher after Eduardo Rodriguez joined Steven Wright and Drew Pomeranz on the disabled list.
“It depends what happens with Steven Wright, Drew Pomeranz," Kennedy said. "We got a little bit of time to figure that out. I think if you held a gun to my head, I would always support more pitching. Pitching pitching pitching. Dave and Alex Cora, they’ll make their assessment."