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Boston Red Sox don’t crack Top 10 in Opening Day payroll
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- Boston Red Sox don’t crack Top 10 in Opening Day payroll
Though the Red Sox signed Ranger Suarez to a nine-figure deal this offseason, they still didn't crack the Top 10 in Opening Day payroll, according to a new study from the Associated Press.
Boston opened the season 12th in payroll, with $194 million.
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In the AL East, the Red Sox trailed the Yankees ($297 million) and Blue Jays ($269 million) by a significant margin. At No. 12, they were one spot behind the San Francisco Giants ($196 million), who took on the Rafael Devers contract last June.
The Mets led the way at $352 million followed by the Dodgers at $317 million, while Cleveland brought up the rear at $62 million. Los Angeles would have been at $395.2 million without factoring in deferrals, but the AP's calculations are based on present-day value, which knocks them down.
This study is cash spent on player payroll to open 2026, not the Competitive Balance Tax, where the Red Sox are higher. In terms of CBT payroll, the Red Sox are sitting right around the second threshold at $264 million, according to FanGraphs.
There's been growing unrest among the Red Sox fanbase amid a slow start to the season. During the first homestand of the year, multiple chants of "sell the team!" broke out at Fenway Park.
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"Obviously, they're not too happy," manager Alex Cora said after Monday's loss to the Brewers. "That's why we love it here because their expectations are up with (ours). Right now, we deserve whatever they're thinking. We're not playing good baseball. And we know it."
Since Monday's loss, the Red Sox won back-to-back games to improve to 4-8.
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