Two Boston Red Sox Key player to Terminate contract If their salaries are not increased.

After the Red Sox traded Chris Sale, what comes next? Perhaps even more subtraction.

On the last weekend of 2023, after weeks of inaction, the Red Sox saw chaos break out as word leaked that they had not only reached an agreement with Lucas Giolito, their top pitching target, but also made the shocking trade of sending Chris Sale (along with cash) to the Braves in exchange for infielder Vaughn Grissom. Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow filled one void in his starting rotation, created another, and found the right-handed hitter he was looking for at second base in less than a day.

The Red Sox will continue to reassemble their roster for 2024, unless there is an unanticipated six-week period of indifference prior to pitchers and catchers reporting. With Sale and Alex Verdugo gone, Giolito, Grissom, Tyler O’Neill, and a few depth arms in, as well as the possibility of Justin Turner, James Paxton, and Adam Duvall leaving in free agency, the adjustments made thus far have been substantial. All indications, however, are that the Red Sox will add more players prior to Opening Day.

But perhaps further deduction is necessary before doing so. A baseball source claims that the Red Sox have informed at least one free agent target that they must reduce their salary before making their full pursuit of him. Therefore, it’s hardly a surprise that the Sox cut almost $4 million in pay by trading in Verdugo, who was expected to receive $9.2 million in arbitration, for O’Neill, who was expected to receive $5.5 million, and $8.6 million more (based on CBT estimates) by leaving Sale. The most important question is why the team is acting so well in terms of money, given that current estimates have its committed capital at about $200 million—far below the $237 million first competitive balance tax level.