Not too long ago, there was intense rivalry between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox in the American League.
Both teams and their respective fan bases harbored strong animosity toward each other.
However, the era of hostility between the Yankees and Red Sox seems to have faded into the past, much like outdoor telephone booths, becoming distant memories.
Interestingly, among the American League East teams, only the Red Sox’s payroll has decreased.
This is a noteworthy point.
For the 2024 season, the Yankees’ player payroll has surged to $306,152,658, representing an increase of nearly $24 million from the previous year.
In contrast, the Red Sox’s player payroll has declined to $177,716,975, marking a decrease of approximately $5.1 million.
In the previous season, the Baltimore Orioles impressively clinched the AL East with a remarkable 101-61 record.
Meanwhile, the Yankees had a disappointing year, barely surpassing .500 with an 82-80 record.
The Red Sox endured a dismal season as well, finishing last in the division with a 78-84 record, translating to a winning percentage of .481, trailing the Orioles by 23 games.
In 2022, the Yankees secured the division title with a 99-63 record.
Conversely, the Red Sox found themselves at the bottom of the standings in 2022, repeating their 78-84 record from the previous year.
The Red Sox’s last notable competitive season in the American League East was in 2021, where they finished third with a respectable 92-70 record, trailing the division-winning Tampa Bay Rays by just 8 games.
Player Payroll Picture:
The player payroll serves as a snapshot of a team’s roster in terms of impact players, although it’s not the sole determinant of success.
It’s evident that the Red Sox are lacking in game-changing position players, while the Yankees boast such talent.
While the Red Sox have started the 2024 season at 7-3 and the Yankees at 9-2, the disparity in their on-field performances has dimmed the competitive edge of their rivalry.
As the season progresses, the glaring differences in the trajectories of the Yankees and Red Sox are becoming more pronounced.
The Yankees’ payroll is on the rise, whereas the Red Sox’s is declining.
The payroll increases of the Blue Jays and Orioles are notable, although their rosters feature young players yet to reach expensive arbitration or free agency stages.
The Yankees’ starting lineup includes four players aged 25 or under, indicating a youthful core, while the Red Sox have three such players.
The Yankees are projected to exceed the top tier of MLB Luxury Tax thresholds unless they reduce payroll by season-end, while the Red Sox have ample room under the first tier of the luxury tax.
Notably, the Yankees have five players earning over $27 million this year, compared to only one for the Red Sox.
The average ages of AL East teams are relatively close, with the Red Sox being slightly younger than the league average.
While team payroll hints at their direction, it’s concerning for Red Sox fans that the Yankees continue to add payroll and star-quality players, while their team has refrained from similar actions, especially in the context of competing against the Yankees.
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