McAdam: Sam Kennedy warns that retaining both Betts and Martinez 'will be difficult'

The Red Sox' search for a new top baseball executive is in its early stages. No interviews have been conducted, and, in fact, no candidates have been contacted.

But on Monday, the day after the Red Sox finished the 2019 season with a mere 84 wins and a third-place finish, there came a tough realization.

Some difficult decisions lie ahead and some may need to be made even before the new executive is hired.

Two such calls involve the future of J.D. Martinez and Mookie Betts.

Martinez has an opt-out in his current contract which he must act upon five days after the World Series. Betts, meanwhile, remains under the Red Sox' control for one more season.

But against the backdrop of ownership's recent admission that the "goal'' is to be under the first competitive balance tax threshold (CBT) of $208 million in 2020, it simply may not be feasible to retain both.



"Yes, there's a way (to bring back both),'' Kennedy said in meeting with reporters Monday morning. "But obviously, it will be difficult given the nature of the agreements and the contract that we have in place.''

There are differences between the two. Martinez could opt-out, thus relieving the Sox of $63.75 million in salary obligations while correspondingly leaving a significant hole in the middle of their lineup. Meanwhile, Betts remains under control for another year. The Sox could either keep him for 2020 and try to re-sign him when he hits the open market, or, so as to not be left with only a draft pick to show for his departure, deal him this winter.

Indeed, counting Martinez's scheduled salary of $23.75 million, estimated cost of some 40-man roster players and benefits, the Red Sox are already committed to about $151 million for 2020.

That doesn't include what Betts will earn in his final year of salary arbitration (estimated at close to $30 million), or other sizable leaps for other arbitration-eligible players such as Jackie Bradley Jr., Eduardo Rodriguez, Andrew Benintendi, Brandon Workman and Matt Barnes.

Those deals will take the Red Sox well over $200 million -- and represent only about half of the team's projected 25-man roster, making for a tight financial squeeze.

"We have a very targeted and strategic plan that we're building right now,'' said Kennedy. "Some of the dates related to contract decisions come right after the World Series, so we've had some time in September to focus on the off-season given where we were in the standings. So, it's going to be a challenging offseason, but we're ready to tackle it head-on and do everything we can to put a competitive team out there -- not just for next year, but also 2021 and 2022.

"It's a difficult decision to get that stated goal (of being under the CBT), but that's also why it's not a mandate.''

One path for the Sox to create some fiscal breathing room would be to move some of the existing contracts. For instance, if the Sox were willing to take back some of the money due to, say, either David Price (three years, $99 million remaining) or Nathan Eovaldi (three years, $51 million remaining), they could create additional payroll space.

"There's been a lot of creative ideas bandied about,'' said Kennedy, while making it clear he wasn't referring to Price and/or Eovaldi specifically. "We'll continue to have those discussions as we get into the offseason. There's no lack of creativity within that baseball operations group and there's an enthusiasm and energy to attack the offseason.''

Either way, the Red Sox will be put in the uncomfortable position of trying to convince fans that the produce on the field will be better -- even if the price tag is smaller.

"We've proved that you can have the highest payroll in baseball and win the World Series,'' noted Kennedy. "And you can have the highest payroll in baseball and win 84 games and finish out of postseason competition. There is a correlation between spending and winning -- clearly.

"However, we've also had success in years where we've come under the CBT and we've had success going over. At the end of the day it's about the players that you put out there. It's about health, it's about great management and leadership from the staff. We have some real talent in the clubhouse as we turn the page to 2020. We also have a very creative Baseball Operations department. So we're very confident about what lies ahead, but we do have some challenging and difficult decisions.''