Report: MLB agents still frustrated with Red Sox’ spending limitations

"I do not want to talk about specifics related to payroll and parameters."

Craig Breslow and the Red Sox could still add an impact starter before the start of the regular season. Barry Chin / The Boston Globe

By Conor Ryan

February 27, 2024

2 minutes to read

The Red Sox will officially open their 2024 regular season in a little less than a month.

But even with spring training now in full swing, several intriguing free agents like Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell remain on the market.

A stagnant market would presumably represent the best-case scenario for the Red Sox, who clearly aren’t looking to shell out nine-figure contracts this winter — even with the evident need for reinforcements on the mound.

More optimism was echoed earlier this week via baseball insider Peter Gammons. Per Gammons, a National League executive told him that “we hear the Red Sox and [Montgomery’s agent] Scott Boras had a good meeting recently and may get some deal eventually done on Jordan Montgomery.”

One NL executive yesterday said "we hear the Red Sox and Scott Boras had a good meeting recently and may get some deal eventually done on Jordan Montgomery."
— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) February 26, 2024

The stars are seemingly aligned for the Red Sox to reel off of a major addition midway through spring training. But a report from MassLive’s Chris Cotillo on Monday painted the picture of a Red Sox team still stuck in neutral — rather than “full throttle” — due to fiscal priorities.

“While Red Sox continue to look at ways to upgrade [the] roster, even with minor league deals, frustrations continue from agents,” Cotillo posted on X Monday evening. “One this week: “I’ve never seen them this hamstrung and haggling even over NRI [non-roster invitee] numbers.’”

While Red Sox continue to look at ways to upgrade roster, even with minor league deals, frustrations continue from agents. One this week: “I’ve never seen them this hamstrung and haggling even over NRI numbers.“
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) February 26, 2024

Even if an innings-eating starter like Montgomery might be willing to sign either a short-term deal or a contract well below his initial projections, it remains to be seen if the Red Sox have the willingness this offseason to open up their checkbook.

Boston currently has a projected payroll of $205 million this season — with the team needing to spend at least another $32 million to reach MLB’s first competitive tax threshold of $237 million.

However, Red Sox president Sam Kennedy acknowledged last month that the team’s payroll this season will “probably be lower” than it was in 2023. The payroll last year was $225 million.

Earlier this month in Fort Myers, Kennedy added that new Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has “set parameters” in place as far as spending this season.

“He’s operating under those parameters,” Kennedy said of Breslow. “I do not want to talk about specifics related to payroll and parameters because it does nothing to help us competitively.