The Red Sox are willing to be buyers before the MLB trade deadline, even though their most recent noteworthy transaction may not suggest so.
And if the Red Sox do go that path, team president and CEO Sam Kennedy stated that ownership has given them permission to make big decisions if necessary.
When asked on WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show if the team was willing to be buyers at the trade deadline, Kennedy responded, “Definitely.”We are capable of doing that in terms of achieving our objective of being a postseason team and receiving a blessing from ownership.
Kennedy stated in a follow-up that everyone is fully in favor of additional players, even if doing so necessitates a significant financial commitment. However, with the team sitting at 44-45 going into Saturday’s game against the Nationals, Kennedy was hesitant to totally commit to the squad being buyers.
Kennedy responded to a question about whether ownership would be prepared to commit financially to a potential Red Sox addition before the deadline: “Definitely, if it’s a fit that helps us get to where we want to go.” Our current approach is the same as it was in November, December, January, February, and March, which resulted in what we perceived to be an extremely aggressive and fruitful offseason. So a straightforward, full-stop response.
However, we also need to be realistic in the second part of that response. Over the next several weeks, we won’t be in a terrific position if we don’t work hard, do the right things, and win baseball games. In order to put ourselves in a position to add to this club at the deadline and go for it, we must start playing better baseball, get back to.500, and win series.
Payroll flexibility for 2025 and beyond was one of the Red Sox’s selling points when they made the contentious trade of Devers in June. The remaining balance of Devers’ 10-year, $313.5 million deal, which carried a $31.32 million cap charge this season, was released from the Red Sox by the Giants.
However, a significant amount of that cap cost was deducted from the initial luxury tax level because Devers was on Boston’s roster for almost half the season. According to Christopher Smith of MassLive, the Red Sox are thought to be very near the $241 million luxury tax threshold for the 2025 season after the transaction. Therefore, a significant addition would probably solidify their standing as a luxury tax squad for the 2025 campaign.
Teams that are below.500 at the trade deadline and are close to the luxury tax level are usually sellers. Kennedy refrained from stating if the Red Sox would be buyers even if they had a losing record in late July because the team had spent the duration of the season hovering around.500.
When asked if the team would add if they were below, Kennedy responded, “It’s just hard to say.”500 by the due date. Picking a lane and then having you play a sound clip in my face for the next six months is not something I want to do. Therefore, I really don’t want [to speak] at this moment.
In the upcoming days, the Red Sox have a good, but short, chance to raise their record above.500. The Red Sox will face the MLB-worst Rockies for a three-game set starting Monday after their three-game series against the Nationals. After that, though, they have a ton of games against teams that are either in the running for the playoffs or are already in the running, including the Rays, Cubs, Phillies, and Dodgers. Boston’s final complete series before the July 31 deadline is a three-game matchup with Los Angeles.
A solid performance during that time frame would undoubtedly encourage the front office to make a purchase. Additionally, it would probably put the Red Sox back in the running for the playoffs. They are 6.5 games behind the Blue Jays for first place in the AL East and 2.5 games behind the Mariners for the last wild card slot in the American League going into Saturday.
Because of its depth of prospects, Boston may be in the running for some of the best players available if it can return to the postseason picture before July 31 and has the approval to spend on anybody it chooses. For the Red Sox, starting pitchers Sandy Alcantara of the Marlins, Freddy Peralta of the Brewers, Merrill Kelly of the Diamondbacks, Josh Naylor of the Diamondbacks, and Ryan O. Hearn of the Orioles would all be needed.
Boston might be in a good position to sell before the deadline if it can’t get back into the postseason picture in the upcoming weeks. Some of the top players that have been linked to moves later in July include starting pitcher Walker Buehler, reliever Aroldis Chapman, outfielder Jarren Duran, and third baseman Alex Bregman.
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