"The text on the tweet read "iykyk," which stands for, "If you know, you know." The Red Sox were referencing the team resetting the luxury tax in 2021. By not spending much in the offseason and offloading a few players at the 2020 deadline, the Red Sox were able to reset the penalty the team would pay for exceeding the luxury tax - also known as a the competitive balance tax - in 2021."
"At the moment Chaim Bloom was hired as GM, the Red Sox flipped the switch from "wanting to win" to "wanting efficiency." While Theo Epstein often preached about building a "$100-million development machine," for the Sox of 2020 and onward the goal was not just to have a supply of young (cheap) players coming up from the minors to fill needs, but to do that while staying under the luxury tax."
"RosterResource puts the Red Sox at a Luxury Tax payroll at $265 million. For those keeping track at home, the tax thresholds for 2026 are $244 million, $264, $284, and $304. The Red Sox crossed the first threshold for the 2025 season and, before signing Suárez, were set to fall under the lowest threshold to once more "reset.""
On September 1, 2020 the Red Sox posted "iykyk" to signal a luxury-tax reset achieved by limited offseason spending and deadline trades. The organization shifted under Chaim Bloom from an immediate "wanting to win" posture to prioritizing payroll efficiency and a supply of young, inexpensive players. The club aimed to develop prospects while remaining under luxury-tax thresholds to avoid escalating penalties. Payroll tracking showed the Red Sox at roughly $265 million, with MLB thresholds rising in 2026. The team crossed the first threshold in 2025 and briefly positioned to fall under the lowest threshold before a subsequent signing.
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