Boston Red Sox offseason news, rumors, 2023 payroll, luxury tax, and more

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 21: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the Boston Red Sox reacts with Rafael Devers #11 of the Boston Red Sox during the third inning of the 2022 Little League Classic game against the Baltimore Orioles on August 21, 2022 at Bowman Field on August 21, 2022 in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania/ (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 21: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the Boston Red Sox reacts with Rafael Devers #11 of the Boston Red Sox during the third inning of the 2022 Little League Classic game against the Baltimore Orioles on August 21, 2022 at Bowman Field on August 21, 2022 in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania/ (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Everything you need to know about the Boston Red Sox 2022-23 offseason

This is a make-or-break offseason for the Boston Red Sox in many ways.

For the first time in years, they have immense financial flexibility and a flourishing farm system at the same time. Of course, the reason they have so much space under the Competitive Balance Threshold (luxury tax) is that they’ve said goodbye to several free agents, whom they’ll need to replace. But unlike years past, they won’t have to rely solely on free agency. Several promising rookies and prospects could be on the 2023 roster, and they have depth in the minor leagues to make trades.

Throughout the offseason, we’ll be collecting everything you need to know about the Red Sox, and updating as things progress:

Red Sox 2023 payroll information

Red Sox 2023 projected payroll as of 12/18: $148M

Payroll info courtesy of Spotrac

Red Sox 2023 Competitive Balance Threshold (Luxury Tax) information

2023 Competitive Balance Threshold: $233M

Total 2023 AAV/Tax payroll: $128.6M

Estimated 2023 arbitration AAV payroll: $37.01M

Est. Pre-arb AAV payroll: $7.15M

Red Sox projected total 2023 CBT allocations: $152.5M

Available to spend: $80.4M

Payroll info courtesy of Spotrac

Red Sox 2022-2023 transactions

  • Red Sox trade Hoy Park to Pirates (12/16)
  • Red Sox designate IF Eric Hosmer for assignment (12/16)
  • Red Sox acquire RHP Wyatt Mills from Royals (12/16)
  • Red Sox designate IF Jeter Downs for assignment (12/15)
  • Red Sox designate IF Hoy Park for assignment (12/13)
  • Red Sox sign OF Masataka Yoshida to 5-year contract (12/7)
  • Red Sox agree to terms with RHP Kenley Jansen on 2-year contract (12/7)
  • Red Sox agree to terms with RHP Chris Martin on 2-year contract (12/2)
  • C Ronaldo Hernández outrighted to Triple-A (12/2)
  • Garrett Whitlock changes jersey number from 72 to 22 (11/29)
  • Sox sign LHP Joely Rodríguez to 1-year contract (11/23)
  • Sox non-tender OF Franchy Cordero, INF Yu Chang (11/18)
  • Sox extend Qualifying Offer to Xander Bogaerts (11/10)
  • Sox select contract of Enmanuel Valdez (11/10)
  • Easton McGee traded to Seattle Mariners for cash considerations (11/9)
  • James Paxton exercises 1-year, $4.2M player option (11/9)
  • Rob Refsnyder signed to 1-year, $1.2M deal, avoiding arbitration (11/9)
  • Eric Hosmer exercised his 3-year, $39M option [covered by Padres] (11/8)
  • Sox declined Tommy Pham’s $12M mutual option (11/8)
  • Sox declined James Paxton’s 2-year, $26M option (11/8)
  • Xander Bogaerts opted out and is a free agent (11/7)
  • Chris Sale exercised his 2-year, $55M option for 2023-24 (11/1)

Red Sox offseason rumors

Check out our Winter Meetings Tracker for live updates!

  • Dodgers interested in JD Martinez (12/3)
  • Phillies meeting with Xander Bogaerts, other top FA shortstops (12/2)
  • Sox ‘serious suitor’ for outfielder Mitch Haniger (12/1)
  • José Abreu was top Red Sox target before Astros signing (11/29)
  • Padres willing to move Tatis to outfield in order to sign Bogaerts (11/28)
  • Sox have competition from several teams in Bogaerts race (11/27)
  • Red Sox interested in Kenley Jansen (11/26)
  • Red Sox interested in Andrew Heaney, will avoid big-money FA pitching (11/20)
  • Cubs targeting Christian Vázquez, Xander Bogaerts (11/18)
  • Yankees interested in Xander Bogaerts (11/15)
  • Sox linked to Japanese superstar pitcher Kodai Senga (11/14)
  • Sox made multi-year offer to Nathan Eovaldi as well as QO (11/13)
  • Phillies expressing ‘real interest’ in Xander Bogaerts (11/13)
  • Dodgers interested in Xander Bogaerts (11/12)
  • Rafael Devers gave Sox a deadline for contract negotiations (11/9)
  • Chaim Bloom refutes “overblown” Bogaerts backup plan report (11/9)
  • Sox, Devers reportedly $100M apart in negotiations

Red Sox arbitration-eligible players (and salaries for 2023)

  • RP Ryan Brasier – $2.3M
  • 3B Rafael Devers – $16.9M
  • SP Nick Pivetta – $5.9M
  • OF Franchy Cordero – $1.5M – NON-TENDERED
  • OF Alex Verdugo – $6.9M
  • IF/OF Rob Refsnyder – $1.6M – SIGNED $1.2M
  • IF Christian Arroyo – $2.2M
  • RP Josh Taylor – $1.1M
  • C Reese McGuire – $1.3M
  • IF Yu Chang – $900K – NON-TENDERED

Projections courtesy of MLBTradeRumors.com

Red Sox free agents lost

  • Xander Bogaerts (opted out, signed with San Diego Padres)
  • Tommy Pham (club declined mutual option)
  • Abraham Almonte
  • Eduard Bazardo (signed MiLB contract with Baltimore Orioles)
  • Yu Chang (non-tendered)
  • Franchy Cordero (non-tendered, signed with Baltimore Orioles)
  • Tyler Danish
  • Jaylin Davis
  • Nathan Eovaldi (extended Qualifying Offer and multi-year deal)
  • Rich Hill
  • JD Martinez (no QO, signed with Los Angeles Dodgers)
  • Jose Peraza
  • Hirokazu Sawamura
  • Matt Strahm (signed with Philadelphia Phillies)
  • Michael Wacha (no QO)

Red Sox top prospects for 2023

  1. SS Marcelo Mayer – ETA 2024
  2. 1B Triston Casas – Debuted 2022
  3. OF/SS Ceddanne Rafaela – 2023
  4. 2B Nick Yorke – 2023
  5. OF Miguel Bleis – 2025
  6. RHP Bryan Mata – 2023
  7. LHP Brandon Walter – 2023
  8. SS Mikey Romero – 2026
  9. 3B/1B Blaze Jordan – 2024
  10. OF Roman Anthony – 2026

Rankings courtesy of MLB Pipeline