Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe says that the Boston Red Sox could look like a different team in 2011, and it will come down to the way the team handles their future payroll.

The Sox are maxed out on their payroll at $170 million and they could pay a luxury tax of 30 percent if they exceeds $178 million next season. This could be a problem if the team targets the Philadelphia Phillies Jayson Werth or the San Diego Padres Adrian Gonzalez in the off season.

The Red Sox will be headed to an off-season where the status of Victor Martinez an Adrian Beltre, both free agents who could command a high salary, will be in question. Additionally, designated hitter David Ortiz has a $12.5 million team option that the Sox may consider renegotiating. Cafardo suggests a few candidates that could be traded to straighten out the payroll include Jonathan Papelbon, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Jacoby Ellsbury.

On a side note, free-agent-to-be Carl Crawford was predicted to land with the Los Angeles Angels for 2011, but Cafardo says the Angels are having payroll issues. The Angels are estimated to have a $110 million payroll for next year, before adding free agents. Crawford is expected to get an expensive multi-year deal, so the Angels will need to get creative in order to afford the free-agent outfielder.