Further salary relief allows the Sox to do things like trade for more talent during the season, sign more/bigger free agents after the season, and do more Benintendi-like signings. Those are far from nothing.I have a lot of respect for John Henry. I'd be very, very surprised in this moment if he allowed Bloom to accept further salary relief in lieu of a prospect. That does nothing for the Red Sox. I have never known Henry to blatantly make moves for his own wallet since he bought the team.
I really have a hard time understanding why Friedman wouldn't include Josiah Gray to just make this happen. He has 40 IP above AA, he's attractive to the Red Sox and may in the long run be blocked by their insane SP depth. Verdugo and Gray for Mookie and Price is a steal.