BOSTON -- Before the Red Sox complete their pursuit of closer Keith Foulke, they may try to move some salary from their payroll to make room.
Talks with Foulke's agents are ongoing, and the Sox are positioned as the favorites to land the reliever, who saved 41 games for the Oakland A's last season.
But the recent acquisition of Curt Schilling -- who will make $12 million in his first season with the Red Sox -- has the team creeping closer to the $120-million luxury tax level, a penalty the Sox would like to avoid.
Among those who might be dealt are outfielder Johnny Damon ($8 million next season) and pitchers Byung-Hyun Kim and Scott Williamson (both arbitration eligible).
Kim, who stands to earn upwards of $5 million in arbitration, might be the most logical choice. The Sox had him slotted as their No. 4 starter, but the arrival of Schilling pushes him to No. 5, and after paying John Burkett $5.5 million last year, they don't want to pay their fifth starter more than $5 million again.
Still just 24 and versatile, Kim would have some value on the trade market.
There are indications that Foulke's agents are seeking a fourth guaranteed year from the Sox, but even with interest from the Mets and Cubs, the Sox don't want to go that far.
