Thank you for this. Every single thread this is mentioned and every single time someone says “well what reports?” and then they attack the reporters.I think these were the three original reports about the Red Sox needing to move salary before signing a free agent. The follow-up reports by McCaffrey and Speier hedge more than Cotillo about whether they “need” to shed salary first vs prefer to do so, etc.
As far as I’m aware, I haven’t seen any actual reporting about the Sox setting a payroll target this year that’s lower than last year’s. Although some have surmised that based on the below and other reports about being unlikely to pursue certain FAs.
Chris Cotillo:
“To do so, however, more subtraction may come first. According to a baseball source, the Red Sox have told at least one free agent target that they need to shed more payroll before pursuing him as aggressively as they want to.”
“The Red Sox still have holes but in their messaging to agents, appear to be looking to move some money before aggressively plugging them.”
Jen McCaffrey/Ken Rosenthal:
“Hernández, who would address the Red Sox’s need for power, remains a point of focus. But according to one person with knowledge of the talks, the Red Sox prefer to tackle other areas of the roster and reduce payroll before committing to the free agent.”
Alex Speier:
“I should mention that this story was written as a follow-up to the excellent reporting of @jcmccaffrey and @Ken_Rosenthal today, as well as more broadly the reporting by @ChrisCotillo and @Sean_McAdam in recent weeks.”
“It’s unclear whether the Sox will look to sign anyone aside from a starting pitcher for more than two years. (The Sox’ deal for Giolito was a one-year deal with a player option for a second season.)”
“Major league sources confirmed the Sox have indeed been willing to listen on Yoshida while also entertaining offers on closer Kenley Jansen (who has one year and $16 million left on his deal). Moves to part with either player wouldn’t occur in a vacuum or as an exercise of cutting payroll for its own sake, but would instead be used to free money for other additions.”
At this point, you’d have to disprove the notion the Red Sox are trimming payroll rather than prove it.
Every local reporter, every national reporter, hell the CBO is even hinting this isn’t the time to spend.
I just think people don’t want to believe it so they attack it.