Having MVP or Cy Young level players on your baseball team clearly matters in MLB. Washington had Rendon, Soto, Scherzer and Strasburg. Boston had Mookie, Martinez, Price and Sale. Houston had Altuve, Bregman, Springer and Kuechel. Cubs had Bryant, Rizzo, Lester and Arrieta.
The Sox have a guy that could be one of those players for years to come. Getting rid of him because of financial reasons when you are a team whose value has increased a whopping, on average over the last 18 years, $327 million a year is foolish asset management.
Imagine crying poverty, whimpering about the need to get under luxury tax line, whining about how $400 million over 12 years isn't affordable, all while increasing ticket prices as you increase your franchise value $327 million a year like you have every year for 18 years?
Just pay the man!