The Boston Red Sox is an interesting case. As one of the biggest franchises, it remained at or near the top of payrolls until the end of the last decade. But something happened after 2019, and gradually the Sox fell behind. Was it the ownership growing frugal or others stepping up their game? Could the same story continue in 2024, or will they make a statement signing like Blake Snell?

The Red Sox, in recent times, is a team that focuses more on its farm and trades. While the team barely crossed the luxury tax threshold in 2022, it remained way off in 2023. Both years, the team finished last in the AL East. But this aversion to spending could also have been due to their past experiences.

Why could Blake Snell be a bridge too far?

The pitching needs of the Red Sox are nothing new. What they do on the mound has been their weakness for a few years. Even though the BoSox have tried their hands on multiple pitchers, none have quite become the dominant ace that the Red Sox want. The Cy Young winner, Blake Snell, could be that ace, but he comes with baggage. The Sox have lived this story before.

Bill Madden of the New York Daily News shared that Scott Boras expects a 9-year, $270 million deal for the ace. This is higher than the $240 million that was previously reported. It seems that expectations are in the vicinity of these two numbers, but this could be higher than what the Red Sox are willing to pay.

The Red Sox had previously signed Chris Sale to a 6-year, $160 million contract in 2021, on the back of a successful stint that saw them win a World Series. But things quickly descended for the ace, with injuries and inconsistencies marring his career. The player was recently traded to the Atlanta Braves.

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Just like Snell, Sale was over 30 years old at the time of the signing of this deal. But while Sale’s issue was injury related in the case of Snell the issue is different. Snell has been streaky, he followed up the 2018 Cy Young winning season with four underperforming ones until he won the Cy Young award again in 2023. But what is the biggest issue here is the alleged budget of the Red Sox.

The budgetary limits of the Boston Red Sox

A few weeks ago, MassLive’s Chris Cotillo reported that the Red Sox were keeping a tight budget. The team had limited itself to a $225 million budget in 2023, quite short of the $233 million threshold. According to Spotrac, the Red Sox currently sits barely below $180 million. Theoretically, the team can give Snell a big contract without breaking the $237 million threshold, but they have another option as well.

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The team is linked with the Chicago White Sox ace and former Cy Young finalist Dylan Cease. His $8 million salary plus two years of control make him a cheaper alternative. So is the Red Sox willing to flirt with the tax threshold, or are they planning on keeping some distance to ensure a few additions during the deadline day? With the trade market still being robust, there are mixed feelings regarding the Snell connections.