A Holiday Present For Padres, Red Sox: A Wil Myers/David Price Trade

Red Sox Want to Stay Under 2020 Luxury Tax Threshold

All of the talk following the conclusion of the 2019 season was the Red Sox needing to move either Mookie Betts, JD Martinez or Price in order to stay under the $208 million competitive luxury tax threshold for 2020. In plain English, the Sox need to cut payroll as they’re currently $10 million over the threshold if the season started today and that comes with a big penalty, Thus, the Sox are in dire straits to make a trade before spring training.

I’m not buying the rumors of the Red Sox moving Betts before his pending free agency. Team owner John Henry will find a way to reduce payroll and extend him to a long-term deal. Granted, Betts has made it perfectly clear that he will test the open market next winter, but he’s a generational player and the Red Sox cannot afford him to leave the fold just yet. Henry’s best resource to rectifying the situation is moving Price and his $31 million salary.

Why The Padres Need David Price

Adding a veteran starting pitcher who can aid with the development of their talented, but inexperienced rotation is a top priority for the Padres this offseason. No question, Price’s career resume makes him the perfect fit for the Friars.

This isn’t a simple salary dump trade like when the Padres acquired Matt Kemp from the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2014. No, Price is still a quality starter who can adapt his full pitching repertoire to take advantage of the dimensions found at Petco Park very quickly. His work ethic is exhibited by winning a Cy Young in 2012, American League Comeback Player of the Year in 2018 and a World Championship with the Red Sox in 2018 as well.

Yes, the lefthander struggled badly in 2019, but it’s not inconceivable that Price returns to being a double-digit winner in 2020. Today, he relies more on getting batters out with his changeup, but his 92-mph fastball can still get the job done if used in the right pitching sequence. Plus, Price’s vast MLB experience allows him to tutor a young starter like Chris Paddack into learning how to command the strike zone better with the use all of his pitches.

All along, Padres team owner Ron Fowler and general manager AJ Preller have stated the Padres have payroll flexibility for the right acquisition. Moving Myers for Price falls under this category.

From the Padres Perspective: Wil Myers Must be Moved

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It been the worst kept secret in baseball that Myers will be playing somewhere else than San Diego next season. The Padres are desperate to move him, but his contract is the roadblock as Myers is owed $60 million on a deal that runs through the 2022 season. Speculation prior to the winter meetings were the Padres would have to attach a decent prospect to move Myers in any deal.

The Red Sox are ideal trade partners for the Padres because they have a top-of-the rotation starting pitcher available, but he’s owed $96 million over the next three seasons. Once, you subtract the money owed to each player, then the real negotiations begin on deciding who is responsible for paying the remaining $36 million left on Price’s contract. Both sides should come to a quick, amicable agreement as a trade of this nature keeps their minor league systems intact for the conceivable future.

Myers Could Resurrect His Career in Boston

Myers is the perfect addition to the Red Sox lineup as he’s a competent first baseman who is capable of getting on a hot streak at the plate and carrying a team for a few weeks. Plus, Myers is very versatile as he can also play third base and all three outfield positions.

Let’s not forget the fact that Myers $13.85 million salary saves the Red Sox more than $20 million against the luxury tax next season. Consummating this deal gives them some much-needed financial relief to make in-season roster moves without the fear of going too far over the threshold.

Still, the Red Sox have to be concerned with Myers production last season. It was his worst statistical season in the majors as Myers batted .239 with 18 HRs and 53 RBIs. He had a .321 OBP, .739 OPS and struck out 163 times in only 435 at-bats. One thing in Myers favor is his prior relationship with Sox’s new chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom from their days together with the Tampa Rays.

A change of scenery might unleash Myers’ true potential on the field. A trade to Boston provides him an opportunity to play a role on a contender instead of being a savoir for a franchise desperately trying to find an identity. And if Myers cannot produce, then he becomes a short-term solution at first base until Sox top prospect Triston Casas is ready to take over the position.

It’s rare in baseball when a trade helps both teams financially and on-the-field. The clock is ticking on Myers and Price as both are going to be playing elsewhere next season. Now, the wait begins to see if the Padres and Red Sox can consummate a fair, but complicated deal.