3 Players the Red Sox Are Definitely Going to Try and Trade After Payroll Update

Boston Red Sox fans were dealt some disconcerting news on Friday when chairman Tom Werner announced that the organization needs to get below the luxury tax threshold in 2020.

To put the predicament into context, the club needs to get under $208 million in payroll. The only problem is that the franchise spent $230 million over the last two offseasons and already has $150 million committed to pieces in 2020.

The Red Sox can obviously choose to not extend some players, but the club will definitely have to try and formulate trades to cut down their payroll. Let's highlight some who should be offloaded, shall we?

3. Nathan Eovaldi

Baltimore Orioles v Boston Red Sox / Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

The Red Sox are probably regretting signing Nathan Eovaldi to a four-year, $68 million deal after his prolific postseason in 2018, as he's been far from the same player in 2019. Well, if the team truly hopes to get under the luxury tax, offloading his $17 million annual salary may be one of their top priorities. It might be a hard sell, as his 6.03 ERA is far from a marketable figure, but perhaps some team would be willing to take him aboard along with some prospects. Then again, the Sox have expressed a desire to build better from within.

2. Jackie Bradley Jr.

Baltimore Orioles v Boston Red Sox / Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images

JBJ is a defensive wizard for the Sox, but outfield is the deepest position in the league, meaning there will be cheaper options in house and on the market. Bradley Jr. stands to get a raise in arbitration that will be higher than his $8.55 million salary in 2019, so expect Boston to find a trade partner pretty easily and get a decent return in the deal. Perhaps a pitcher?

1. David Price

Boston Red Sox v New York Yankees / Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Price's postseason heroics from 2018 are long in the past and the former Cy Young has followed up that showing with an injury-plagued 2019 campaign. He's pitched to a 4.28 ERA in 22 starts (107.1 innings). More importantly, the 34-year-old southpaw is set to rake in a colossal $32 million in 2020, on top of his $31 mil clip for 2019. The Red Sox have no choice but to try and ship Price out of town...if they can find a buyer.