The Boston Red Sox head into the offseason with expectations swirling-and not just from fans. Manager Alex Cora has already made it clear he wants the front office to be aggressive, and with Craig Breslow now steering the ship as chief baseball officer, there’s a sense that Boston has the leadership in place to make bold moves. That’s why a new report suggesting the Red Sox may be pulling back on big spending this winter is catching a lot of people off guard.
According to reporting, the Red Sox are reportedly hesitant to go beyond the $244 million Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) threshold in 2026. The concern? That crossing that line could result in what’s being described as a “moderate financial loss” for the club.
Now, it’s worth noting that MLB financials aren’t public, so it’s impossible to verify what kind of loss the team might actually incur. But what we can do is look at the numbers we do have and try to piece together what Boston’s strategy might realistically look like.
Right now, the Red Sox are projected to sit at a luxury tax payroll of around $223 million. That leaves roughly $22 million of wiggle room before hitting the first CBT threshold-and about $41 million before the second tier kicks in. If ownership is serious about staying under that first line, then that $22 million becomes the number to watch.
And that’s where things get complicated.
If the Red Sox are trying to stay under that threshold, it likely rules out the possibility of bringing in multiple high-dollar free agents. Names like Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman, and Kyle Schwarber are all expected to command well over $20 million annually. So unless Boston clears some salary off the books, adding two of those bats just doesn’t work under that kind of financial constraint.
There’s been a lot of talk among fans about the possibility of moving Masataka Yoshida’s contract. It’s a logical target-Yoshida has a hefty deal, and the team already has a logjam in the outfield and DH spots.
Offloading that contract would open up some payroll space and clear a path for a new addition. But even if Boston finds a taker, it’s not a silver bullet.
Shedding Yoshida’s salary might get them closer to flexibility, but it still doesn’t guarantee they can fit two premium bats into the budget.
So what does that mean for the offseason outlook?
At this point, a more realistic scenario might be the Red Sox landing one big-name bat-Bregman would make a ton of sense-and pairing him with a more affordable, yet still impactful, position player. That’s where the recent link to Jorge Polanco starts to make more sense. He’s not a headline-grabbing addition, but he’s a steady contributor who could bolster the lineup without breaking the bank.
Of course, that’s not exactly the splash many fans were hoping for. But this isn’t about wishful thinking-it’s about the reality of competing in a loaded American League East. The division is only getting tougher, and if the Red Sox want to keep pace, they’ll need more than just incremental upgrades.
That’s why the expectations in Boston are so high. Fans aren’t asking for a spending spree just for the sake of it-they’re looking at a roster that still needs serious reinforcements to contend, and a division where standing still means falling behind.
So while the Red Sox may be setting internal limits on spending, the pressure to deliver a meaningful offseason remains. One big bat and a solid complementary piece might be the practical route, but if Boston wants to make a real statement-and keep up with the arms race in the AL East-they’ll need to find a way to do more.