Red Sox enter 2018 season with MLB's highest payroll

The Boston Red Sox have the highest payroll in Major League Baseball entering the 2018 season by a wide margin while the Yankees slip out of the top-five.

Fans certainly can’t complain about owner John Henry being stingy with his wallet. The Boston Red Sox will enter the 2018 season with the highest payroll in baseball and it’s not even close.

Boston’s projected Opening Day payroll is an MLB-high $223 million, according to the Associated Press. There is a substantial gap between them and the San Francisco Giants, who own the second-highest payroll at $203 million.

This marks the first time that the Red Sox have been the highest spender since at least 1990, the earliest year for which figures compiled by Major League Baseball are readily available.

David Price is the highest paid player on the Red Sox, set to earn $30 million this year. Only Mike Trout ($34.08 million), Clayton Kershaw ($34 million) and Zack Greinke ($31.95 million) will earn more in 2018.

The Red Sox and Giants appear to be the only teams poised to pay the luxury tax this year. The third-place Chicago Cubs ($183 million) are comfortably below the $197 million threshold set for this season.

Granted, payrolls can fluctuate during the season. The trade deadline offers a key point at which teams can substantially add or subtract payroll.

These figures also aren’t an exact representation of the salary that accounts for the tax. A player’s average annual salary is what counts toward the luxury tax, while player benefits and other expenses are included. Boston’s payroll for luxury tax purposes is just over $234.5 million, per Cot’s Baseball.

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These payroll estimates do provide some insight into where the Red Sox stand among MLB’s top spenders. The Los Angeles Dodgers carried a massive payroll that topped the majors for the last four years. The Dodgers have slashed payroll in an effort to duck the tax and reset the steep repeater penalties. They drop all the way to sixth with a $170 million payroll, while the Red Sox take their spot at the top of the money mountain.

The New York Yankees are another large market team aiming to dip under the tax line this year. Many Red Sox fans rolled their eyes when they found out New York was trading for Giancarlo Stanton. Same old Yankees, buying their way into contention. Actually, that’s not the case at all. Despite adding Stanton’s mammoth contract, New York has significantly decreased their payroll. Their $167 million payroll is the seventh-highest, the lowest the Yankees have ranked since 1992.

The Dodgers set an MLB record with a $270 million payroll in 2015. The Yankees have paid the tax every year since the current system was implemented in 2003. Both franchises have wealthy owners who can certainly afford to pay the tax. Seeing both teams uncharacteristically cut payroll is a sign that MLB’s intent to restore some semblance of competitive balance with the new tax penalties in the latest CBA is working. It’s also clear both teams want to reset the penalties in order to load up for next year’s prime crop of free agents.

The Red Sox would not appear to be a factor in next year’s race for top free agents Bryce Harper, Manny Machado or Josh Donaldson. While any team could use a player of their caliber, Boston is already committed to players at their respective positions.

Next: Over/Under on Red Sox projections

Boston potentially has the salaries of Hanley Ramirez, Drew Pomeranz and Craig Kimbrel falling off their books after this season. Price’s salary could also be wiped away if he exercises the opt-out clause in his contract. Boston may have the highest payroll this year but it’s unlikely they will remain on top beyond this season.

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Red Sox enter 2018 season with MLB’s highest payroll

By Sean Penney | Mar 27, 2018

The Boston Red Sox have the highest payroll in Major League Baseball entering the 2018 season by a wide margin while the Yankees slip out of the top-five.