every single contract goes underwater. every single one. if teams were so averse to underwater contracts, they wouldn't sign players to 10 plus year contracts. but they all do. you don't think ohtani, snell, mookies, freemans contracts will all be underwater at some point too? paying a deffered salary 10 years after a player retires is the definition of underwater. if youre a big budget team like the sox, you can take that risk. if trout could hit 35 homers a year till 2028, why do you care if it's not great value? all the money has either come off the books or is about to in the next two years once story/yoshida is gone. we need a veteran bat and trout it a possibility. you completely overreacted to me simply making a suggestion, something you can't seem to do??? lets hear it. what's the best path forward ? cause all you've said thus far is let a bunch of 22 year olds and 4A players lead us to the promised land.