Red Sox GM suggests a star player could be on the move

The Boston Red Sox have a number of prominent players set to become free agents following the next two seasons. With that, general manager Dave Dombrowski knows that some tough decisions will have to be made.

In no uncertain terms, Dombrowski said on Thursday (h/t Jon Heyman, Fancred Sports) that Boston will lose some of those players once they hit free agency.

Red Sox have several stars eligible for free agency after this year or next. After 2019: Bogaerts, Sale, JD (both this year/next), Porcello. And GM Dave Dombrowski said, “We know we won’t be able to keep all of them under today’s system and finances (meaning 1 or more will go).”

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 21, 2019

Of course, pre-free agency extensions are possible. Heyman noted that Chris Sale has seemed hopeful that something can get done prior to hitting free agency after 2019.

But he added that there won’t be any in-season negotiations between the team and Xander Bogaerts.

Among stars eligible for free agency Sale previously expressed some hope something could get done. There are believed no current contract talks w/ Bogaerts or JD (JD has 3 opt outs). Bogaerts agreed with the GM that there won’t be talks in season.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 21, 2019

J.D. Martinez has a $23.75 million player option for 2020. Then he has $19.35 million options for both 2021 and 2022.

Mookie Betts recently turned down an extension and is set to become a free agent following 2020.

And that really only focuses on the stars. Other key players like former Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello, reigning World Series MVP Steve Pearce, Mitch Moreland, and Eduardo Nunez are all set to hit free agency following 2019.

So, while it’s a period of great baseball for the Red Sox, there’s also a good deal of uncertainty about what the future will hold. And key people within the front office are all too aware of that.