Henry: ‘no payroll restraints'

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FORT MYERS, Fla.Before the 2011 season, the Red Sox made arguably the biggest splash of the winter, acquiring two playersAdrian Gonzalez in a trade before announcing a seven-year extension in April, and Carl Crawford as a free agent -- for a total of nearly 300 million. This year, though, the largest free agent contract they gave out was to Cody Rossa one-year, 3 million deal.

But principal owner John Henry said general manager Ben Cherington is under no payroll constraints.

No, no payroll restraints, Henry said. Not on payroll.

Like all of us he works with some payroll guidelines, said presidentCEO Larry Lucchino.

The trade of Marco Scutaro, whose 6 million option the Sox picked up in October before shipping him to Colorado for right-hander Clayton Mortensen in January seemed to be a classic salarya move that has been highly unusual for the Sox in recent years.

I would say that there was a little bit of both a baseball and financial decision in it, Lucchino said. Basically, it was a baseball move initiated by baseball operations because the suggestion was, as good a player as Marco was, the same level of production could be obtained in a different manor and that the money could be redeployed in other ways.

Henry took exception to the notion that the Sox are not as willing to spend on payroll as they have been in recent years.

The discussion seems to be centering around the idea that were not spending money, Henry said. We have the second highest payroll in baseball.

Asked if the Sox were done spending on payroll 2012, Henry energetically replied:

No! How are we done? This year, 2012, we have the second highest payroll. Does that mean were not spending?

When it was pointed out much of that spending was done in previous years and not this offseason, Lucchino replied:

We are not done to answer your question. In terms of 2012, no we -- its only February -- were not done. Theres things that we do during the season that are possibilities to improve the club during the season and maybe we should be direct about this. Our payroll is going to be in the 190 million-plus range So Im pretty confident in saying if you look at it in the ways that we do, youll see that. And thats a gigantically large commitment because theres a gigantically large commitment to winning in this organization. And if we havent proven that to you in 10 years, then shame on us.

If your pre-existing contracts get you to a certain point in payroll, its hard to go beyond a certain point, Henry said. Every year we have a budget and every year we go over it. Dont we? So are we prepared to go over our budget? Yes, if the right situation presents itself.

Still, the Sox will be mindful of the luxury tax, Henry said.

The luxury tax is going to be a bigger issue every year as we move forward because of the structure, Henry said.

Its something were mindful of, Lucchino said. But we paid the tax before and were paying the tax this year. Were aware that it can be part of the cost of doing business and Ben is aware of that.

The hope is that they have given themselves payroll flexibility if it becomes necessary to add during the season.

We have said that to the team every year when weve met with them, Lucchino said. Thats always our attitude. Theres a payroll you have in the offseason. Theres a payroll you have as the season goes forward. Theres a midseason payroll, an adjustment that happens. Theres an opportunity July 31 at the trading deadline. And theres a final payroll. Theres a lot of different payrolls. To suggest that its static, it is where it is now, is just an erroneous way of looking at it.

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