AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

By Nick O'Malley | nomalley@masslive.com

The Boston Red Sox payroll in 2018 is an MLB-high $234,600,428. It's a lot of money. But only $172,670,000 of it is going to players who will be on the active Opening Day roster.

That means that, come Thursday, the Red Sox will have $61,930,428 committed to players who won't be on the field for Opening Day. That's more than the 25-man rosters of the Oakland A's and Miami Marlins.

That number includes money paid to players who are on the disabled list, suspended (hence their lack of availability on opening day). It also includes contracts for players optioned to Triple-A and deferred payouts to players who are no longer on the team.

For some teams, that's a minor factor. For the Chicago Cubs, only about $3 million is devoted to non-roster players. Obviously, the Red Sox don't have that luxury.

So where's that money going? Let's break it down by player.

(Contract numbers via Spotrac)

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AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

1B Allen Craig - $1 million (Retained)

The Red Sox acquired Craig in the John Lackey trade and immediately struggled upon arriving in Boston. After a couple seasons in the minors, Craig was cut by the Red Sox. This money marks the end of his buyout.

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AP Photo/Elise Amendola

SP Steven Wright - $1.1 million (Suspended)

Wright was suspended for violating the MLB domestic violence policy for 15 games. He'll be back on the roster before the end of the month.

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AP Photo/WINSLOW TOWNSON

LF Manny Ramirez - $2,003,389 (Deferred)

That's right, it's been almost a decade since Ramirez last played for the Red Sox and he's still getting checks.

After the Red Sox traded Ramirez in 2008, they still owed him $32 million, which is getting paid out in installments of roughly $2 million. The annual payments will continue until 2026.

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AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

SP Drew Pomeranz - $8.5 million (Disabled list)

Pomeranz is on the mend due to a flexor strain and will start the season on the disabled list. He won't be there to start, but should return to form.

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AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

OF Rusney Castillo - $11,771,428 (Minor Leagues)

This Red Sox swung and missed when they signed the Cuban outfielder to a seven-year, $72.5 million contract. Now, he's not even on the 40-man roster.

MassLive's Chris Smith explained how, because of new roster money rules, he may stay there.

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AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

2B Dustin Pedroia - $16,125,000 (Disabled List)

Pedroia is the longest-tenured member of the Red Sox -- and one of the highest-paid. It's a touch break that he's still on the way back from offseason knee surgery, but he should return during the first half of the season.

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AP Photo/Ben Margot

3B Pablo Sandoval - $18,455,000 (Retained)

One of the biggest free agency disasters in Red Sox history, Sandoval's contract lingers as a significant chunk of dead money on the books.

It's not just this year, either. Sandoval is on the books for another full $18,455,000 in 2019 -- plus another $5 million in 2020 because of the buyout.

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AP Photo/Charles Krupa

SP Eduardo Rodriguez - $2,375,000 (Disabled List)

Rodriguez underwent knee surgery after the end of the 2017 season and is working his way back. But for now, he's another MLB-level talent who won't be available on Opening Day.

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AP Photo/John Minchillo

RP Tyler Thornburg - $2,050,000 (Disabled List)

Thornburg was acquired before the 2017 season and has yet to appear in a game for the Red Sox because of injury issues.

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AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

INF Marco Hernandez - $554,000 (Disabled List)

Hernandez is a depth option for the Red Sox on the infield. His 2017 season ended due to shoulder surgery, which he's still working his way back from.

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AP Photo/Steven Senne

P Brandon Workman - $835,000 (Minor Leagues)

Workman has MLB experience, but was one of the last players to be optioned when the Red Sox set their 25-man roster.

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AP Photo/John Raoux

P Roenis Elias - $598,000

The Red Sox acquired Elias in the Wade Miley trade, but haven't used him much at the MLB level. He had an outside shot at the Opening Day roster and will likely make his way to Boston at some point this year.

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AP Photo/Charles Krupa

P Austin Maddox - $545,000

Maddox is another young arm who's close to cracking the Boston bullpen. He pitched in 13 games in 2017.

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AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

1B Sam Travis - $545,000

Travis is an intriguing talent at first base who played 33 games with Boston 2017. He'll likely be on the MLB roster at some point in 2018.

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