Red Sox reportedly expected to spend into luxury tax this offseason

If the Pink Sox need to enhance off of their first postseason look in 4 years, they’re going to should spend. It seems they’re getting ready to try this.

The Pink Sox are “totally anticipating” to spend previous the primary luxurious tax threshold this offseason as they imagine they should spend “extra aggressively” with the intention to go deeper within the playoffs, MassLive’s Sean McAdam reported.

The primary luxurious tax threshold for the 2026 season is about at $244 million, and Boston presently has $219.59 million dedicated in payroll in opposition to the posh tax, per Pink Sox Payroll on X. So, the Pink Sox would possible cross that first threshold in the event that they re-signed third baseman Alex Bregman or added a significant free agent.

Nonetheless, that quantity additionally takes into consideration the arbitration projections (by way of MLB Commerce Rumors) for arbitration-eligible gamers, equivalent to first baseman Nathaniel Lowe and beginning pitcher Tanner Houck. If the Pink Sox had been to non-tender Lowe, as an example, they might save $13.5 million of their projected payroll.

After all, a potential outfielder Jarren Duran commerce might additionally get monetary savings in opposition to the posh tax, relying on what he’s traded for. The highly-rumored trade candidate has a $7.7 million wage for the 2026 season.

Nonetheless, the Pink Sox appear more likely to be over the $200 million in projected payroll commitments earlier than signing any free brokers until they’re capable of transfer outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida or pitcher Jordan Hicks. Yoshida was a rumored commerce candidate final offseason and is about to make $18 million in 2026 as he has two years remaining on his deal.

Hicks, in the meantime, is owed $12 million for every of the following two seasons.

The Pink Sox had been a luxurious tax staff in 2025, marking the primary time they ended the season above the primary luxurious tax threshold since 2022, according to The Boston Globe‘s Alex Speier. That they had a projected payroll of $246.5 million, per Spotrac’s information, which was simply over $5 million north of final season’s luxurious tax line.

That payroll quantity for 2025, although, was virtually definitely increased by bit earlier than buying and selling Rafael Devers to the Giants. Devers had a $29.5 million wage final season, so the Pink Sox might need been nearer to spending to the second luxurious tax threshold than we realized previous to the commerce.

If the Pink Sox are prepared to spend towards the second luxurious tax threshold this offseason, they’ve roughly $45 million in cap house to try this, primarily based on their projected wage quantity for subsequent season.

In a situation the place Boston both re-signs Bregman and indicators a significant free agent or indicators a number of main free brokers, it would find yourself getting near the second luxurious tax threshold. The Athletic tasks that 17 of the highest 20 free brokers on its free-agent big board will obtain offers value at the very least $20 million per 12 months this offseason.