According to a number of sources,
the Red Sox are setting their sights on second-tier, cheap starting pitchers like Pittsburgh's Paul Maholm rather than pricier (and better) starters like Hiroki Kuroda and Edwin Jackson. Once again, the dreaded Luxury Tax is being cited as the reason—since the recently ratified Collective Bargaining Agreement ups the tax for high payroll teams (like the Red Sox
used to be).