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Red Sox Brass Talk New CBA, David Ortiz' Future, Fenway Park Concerts For '17

The Red Sox "spent their money carefully this winter," with Owner John Henry believing that under the new MLB CBA, there is "more benefit to get under" the competitive balance threshold, even if only for a year, according to Peter Abraham of the BOSTON GLOBE. Red Sox President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski last month said that one of his goals was to "get the team’s payroll under" $195M. Henry: "There are certain years and I think this is one of those years. It’s based on time as well as amount. I think this a year we’d like to be under it.” Abraham noted by getting under $195M, the Red Sox would "reset the financial penalty" to 20% "should they go over again, which is inevitable" for '18 given the contracts already in place. If the Red Sox stayed over the limit, they would be "taxed at the maximum rate" of 50% for '17 and "every year beyond they were over." By resetting the penalties, the Sox "give themselves financial flexibility in future seasons." Red Sox Chair Tom Werner said the club is "just trying to do what’s best for the franchise" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/21). ESPN BOSTON's Scott Lauber wrote, "Read John Henry's lips: no new taxes" (ESPNBOSTON.com, 1/20). 

NOT A GOOD LOOK: Red Sox CF Jackie Bradley Jr. and P David Price recently said that they were "subjected to racial taunts at Fenway Park" last season. Werner: "We have a zero tolerance policy for that kind of behavior. If we hear that somebody is taunting somebody, then he’ll be ejected" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/21). Werner said that he has "not spoken" to Price. Werner: “If this was happening with David, and I know he modified his remarks afterward and said this was something that happened to him as well previously, but there’s no behavior like that that will be tolerated" (BOSTON HERALD, 1/22). 

BIG PAPI RETURN? Red Sox brass said that there was no "last-ditch effort" to get David Ortiz to postpone retirement for another season. Henry said Ortiz was "pretty convinced" about retiring. Henry: "The conversations we had were really about what happens after" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/21). Red Sox President Sam Kennedy said that the club is "trying to figure out a way to carve out a role for Ortiz within the organization." In Boston, Stephen Hewitt noted one idea is to get Ortiz "involved in broadcasting with the Sox in some capacity" (BOSTON HERALD, 1/22).

HOT COMMODITY: Kennedy said that the Red Sox are "planning 6-8 concerts at Fenway Park this summer, down from 11 last year." Nothing has been scheduled, but the team is "hoping to lure" rapper Drake to Fenway. Kennedy also said $9M in improvements are "being made at Fenway." There will be a "new video board in right field geared toward the fans in the bleachers and Green Monster seats" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/22). Kennedy: "Typically the concerts are routed either by Live Nation or AEG and a very set number of dates are going to play and a set number of cities and locations. But when folks go off and do one-off shows like Pearl Jam did last summer, we’re able to make a pitch directly to them and say this is why you should come to Fenway on a one-off basis. ... We’re going to continue to pursue one-off opportunities with someone like Drake" (BOSTON HERALD, 1/23).

TIME HEALS ALL: In Boston, Nick Cafardo wrote Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein last week at the Boston Baseball Writers dinner was "outstanding thanking" Werner for "being on hand and for hiring him years ago." If there was ever any "hard feelings between Epstein and the Red Sox ownership, they’re gone" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/22). 

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