Boston Red Sox painful 2020 season finally pays off – for ownership

The Boston Red Sox can celebrate now that the calendar has flipped to September 1st.

The Boston Red Sox had one goal for the 2020 season – to get themselves under the salary cap. They achieved that goal as painfully as possible, by essentially sitting out free agency, and then trading Mookie Betts to the Dodgers to be rid of David Price. The Red Sox sit at 12-23, solidly in the basement of the AL East and with the third worst record in baseball.

This was entirely by design. The organization, and the fanbase, knew this year would be difficult, although there was a difference of opinion as to the necessity. Boston’s front office maintained that getting under the luxury tax was important for the long term competitiveness of the franchise, while to everyone else, this just seemed to be a way to put more money into the pockets of ownership.

On Tuesday, the calendar flipped to September 1, and there was a great deal of rejoicing amongst the Red Sox. Now that the league year is official, the Red Sox are now under the salary cap once more, resetting their penalty for next season. That celebration was even cause for a now deleted tweet that earned a great deal of ire.

The Red Sox certainly have no excuses for sitting out free agency this year. The rotation is a disaster, particularly with Chris Sale coming back from Tommy John surgery and Eduardo Rodriguez battling heart issues related to COVID-19. The bullpen, which was already a mess, is even worse.

Then there are questions in the lineup. The Red Sox need to find a center fielder as Jackie Bradley Jr., who somehow was not traded, is an impending free agent. Second base is a major question mark and has been for years.

But the luxury tax! It’s back to zero! And maybe that will be something the fans can celebrate – if the Red Sox put that money into fixing a roster that has numerous issues moving forward. Maybe then ownership can justify this move.

The Boston Red Sox reset their luxury tax on Tuesday. They no longer have any excuses come free agency.