8 hours ago
How Boston Red Sox trading Rafael Devers affects 2025 CBT payroll, beyond
SEATTLE — The Red Sox got the San Francisco Giants to take on all $271.153 million of the remaining money on Rafael Devers' contract as part of Sunday's blockbuster trade.
Boston also acquired pitchers Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison and prospects James Tibbs III and Jose Bello.
Advertisement
The Red Sox will play here in Seattle against the Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Monday, which will be the first day of the post-Devers Era.
Devers signed a 10-year, $313.5 million contract extension in January 2023 that went into effect at the beginning of the 2024 season.
Boston ended up paying only $42.347 million of it, including $12.847 million this year.
The Giants will pay him $16.653 million this season, then $254.5 million over the next eight seasons.
Devers' average annual value counting toward the competitive balance tax threshold is $29 million per season.
So the Red Sox' CBT hit for Devers this year will be approximately $12.629 million. The Giants' CBT hit will be $16.371 million.
Advertisement
The Red Sox' 2025 projected payroll is now 'relatively close' to the $241 million CBT base threshold, according to a source. The Red Sox will take on the $32.056 million remaining on Hicks' contract, a four-year, $44 million deal signed before last season.
He will count approximately $6.2 million toward Boston's 2025 CBT payroll and $11 million each of the next two seasons.
The Red Sox have won eight of their past 10 games. The plan as of now is to add at the trade deadline, according to a source familiar with the team's thinking. And so the payroll is expected to be above $241 million at the end of the season.
Eliminating Devers' $29 million average annual value will give them plenty of payroll flexibility in 2026 and beyond. His deal expires in 2033.
More Red Sox coverage
Read the original article on MassLive.
