![\"Sam](\"https:\/\/imageio.forbes.com\/specials-images\/imageserve\/696567f9b95ad68fdeb68d9c\/Sam-Kennedy--Craig-Breslow-mum-on-payroll-plans--and-other-takeaways-as-Red-Sox-wrap\/0x0.jpg?width=960\")
<\/p>\nThe Boston Red Sox\u2019s offseason just took a brutal turn, and a franchise legend is done mincing words.<\/p>\n
After coming agonizingly close to retaining Alex Bregman\u2014only to watch him sign a five-year, $175 million deal with the Chicago Cubs\u2014former closer Jonathan Papelbon unloaded on the front office, delivering a scorching warning that the team\u2019s reluctance to spend could doom them to the basement of the AL East.<\/p>\n
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Sam Kennedy, Craig Breslow mum on payroll plans, and other takeaways as Red Sox wrap up season<\/p>\n
Papelbon, a four-time All-Star who anchored Boston\u2019s bullpen from 2005 to 2011, didn\u2019t hold back during an appearance on Foul Territory.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe front office has got to be prepared to spend,\u201d Papelbon said. \u201cI don\u2019t understand their motive behind not wanting to spend money right now because everyone else\u2014especially Toronto and New York\u2014who are in your division, are spending money. To me, it\u2019s going to be fighting between Tampa Bay and the Red Sox for last place in the division.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Bregman miss stings even more coming just months after the Red Sox traded Rafael Devers\u2014their highest-paid player\u2014to the San Francisco Giants, with fans expecting that payroll relief to fuel an aggressive push in free agency. Instead, Boston\u2019s final offer to Bregman reportedly came in at $165 million over five years, loaded with deferrals\u2014$10 million short of what the Cubs put on the table without heavy back-loading.<\/p>\n
The gap has reignited frustration over the organization\u2019s spending philosophy, with many feeling the club is back at square one despite clearing Devers\u2019 contract.<\/p>\n
But Papelbon didn\u2019t just criticize\u2014he offered a clear path forward.<\/p>\n
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\u201cNow, who are you going to go after? What are you going to do next?\u201d he asked. \u201cTo me, they\u2019ve got to get in on the Bo Bichette deal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pursuing Toronto\u2019s star shortstop would be a bold statement. Bichette, expected to command an even larger contract than Bregman\u2019s, would instantly inject elite offense into the Red Sox infield and prove the front office is finally ready to match the financial firepower of division rivals.<\/p>\n
![\"Alex](\"https:\/\/www.masslive.com\/resizer\/v2\/NU5NA4PPLNCWFN3ABQQ2Q6OSLU.jpg?auth=0f5daf78aae648cabffab49fb119422e3ade6efaba86fb3619983b196d7978bd&width=1280&smart=true&quality=90\")
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For a fanbase already on edge, Papelbon\u2019s message was unmistakable: spend big, or get left behind. The jig is up\u2014Boston\u2019s front office can no longer hide behind deferred money and near-misses. The clock is ticking.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Boston Red Sox\u2019s offseason just took a brutal turn, and a franchise legend is done mincing words. After coming agonizingly close to retaining Alex Bregman\u2014only to… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":140194,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-140193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n