BRADENTON, Fla -- With camps open for almost two weeks and dozens of free agents still looking for jobs, there could be bargains available on the market. But unless something changes dramatically, don't expect that the Red Sox will be adding to their major league roster between now and Opening Day, just over four weeks away.
"As for as signings are concerned, I would say we're through at this point,'' said Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. "Positional player-wise, I don't know where we would even have room. And starting pitching-wise, we definitely don't have room. It just depends on what kind of bargain you were talking about. You're always interested in a bargain. But I'm not looking for that to happen.''
It was a year ago Monday that the Sox signed free agent slugger J.D. Martinez, who greatly impacted their lineup in 2018. But that was the culmination of some negotiations that dragged on through all of last winter. This year, by contrast, the Sox are more settled with their roster, and even when it comes to their bullpen, the team likes what it has on hand more than what's still available.
The fact that the Sox are already over $240 million in payroll commitments, just shy of the final luxury tax threshold of $247 million, and that's undoubtedly a factor in their aversion to any late spring additions.
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