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Ten reasons to look forward to the 2022 Red Sox season

By Daniel Fox

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Enrique Hernandez #5 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates his game winning sacrifice fly with teammates in the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays during Game 4 of the American League Division Series at Fenway Park on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Enrique Hernandez #5 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates his game winning sacrifice fly with teammates in the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays during Game 4 of the American League Division Series at Fenway Park on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images) /
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Red Sox CBO Chaim Bloom
BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 22: Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom of the Boston Red Sox looks on during a pre-game ceremony in recognition of the Minor League Awards before a game against the New York Mets on September 22, 2021 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /

More room for Red Sox CBO Chaim Bloom to work with

From practically the moment he took the Red Sox general manager job, Chaim Bloom was under orders to cut payroll. His first big move was the inevitable trade of Mookie Betts; a move largely made to free up salary. He had slightly more room to navigate in 2021, but he stuck to bargain hunting, signing Hunter Renfroe, Kike Hernandez, and Garrett Richards to low-cost deals.

This season, Bloom will finally have money to spend. The Red Sox already had some room to maneuver before the lockout, but they got some great news when the new CBA raised the luxury tax from $210 million to $230 million. Not only does that mean the Bloom will have more than $25 million to spend this season (the exact total is unknown due to future arbitration cases), but with Nathan Eovaldi, J.D Martinez, and possibly Xander Bogaerts contracts coming off the books next offseason, Bloom can really start to flex the Red Sox financial muscle.

From a 2022 regular season perspective, the increased luxury tax will allow the Red Sox more options for in-season trades. The Dodgers were only able to acquire superstars Trea Turner and Max Scherzer last trade deadline because they had the financial might to do so, while the Red Sox were only able to bring in the injured and soon-to-be-free-agent Kyle Schwarber (though that worked out pretty well for them).

Bloom has been highly successful in acquiring talent even with money limitations, and now that he has the opportunity to spend, Red Sox fans should be eagerly anticipating what he’s got up his sleeve.

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