Roman Anthony secures his future with the Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox have reached an eight-year contract extension agreement with outfielder Roman Anthony, thus securing one of baseball’s brightest prospects amidst his outstanding rookie season. The contract, which includes a $5 million signing bonus, is valued at $130 million. However, with significant bonuses, it could reach $230 million.Anthony, 21, has been a revelation for the Red Sox since his debut on June 9, batting .283/.400/.428 with two home runs and 19 RBIs in 46 games through Wednesday. With exceptional patience and power potential, Anthony has risen to the top of the Red Sox lineup, playing in the 1 and 3 spots, and is widely considered a future MVP candidate. The agreement, which includes a club option for a ninth season in 2034 for $30 million, will begin with a base salary of $2 million in 2026, increasing to $4 million in 2027 and $8 million in 2028. From there, it will jump to $15 million in 2029, $19 million in 2030, $23 million in 2031, $25 million in 2032, and $29 million in 2033.“We are playing great baseball. I didn’t want to be a distraction to anyone,” Anthony commented in a pre-game press conference. “But I knew this is where I wanted to be, and I’m having a great time. And I just wanted to continue like this.”
Roman Anthony
Anthony, who hadn’t played since Sunday due to a back issue, returned to the lineup for Wednesday’s game against the Royals. He went 0-4 in the Red Sox’s 7-3 loss. Upon signing the agreement, Anthony forgoes the opportunity to reach free agency at age 26, which is uncommon for high-level players. He chose not to follow the path of Juan Soto, who signed for 15 years and $765 million, and instead agreed to a deal similar to the eight-year, $111 million extension with a club option that the Arizona Diamondbacks gave to star outfielder Corbin Carroll after his first season in the Major Leagues. If Boston exercises its option, Anthony will reach free agency at 30 years old.“This is a player who was the number 1 prospect in the sport. We have seen the impact he has had on our Major League team in just over 150 at-bats,” said the chief baseball operations officer, Craig Breslow. “And so, when we think about the future of this organization, there is no doubt that today was illuminated.”
Craig Breslow
Some of the bonuses revolve around Anthony’s position in the voting for the American League Rookie of the Year this season.“I don’t know what the future holds, but I believe I will be the best version of myself every day,” Anthony said. “It was a deal that was obviously more than enough for me and my family and in a place where I want to be.”
Roman Anthony
If Anthony had finished in the top two and hadn’t accepted the extension, he would have received a full year of service, which would have allowed him to reach free agency after the 2030 season. If Anthony finishes in the top two, some of the bonuses would come into effect, reflecting the potential value of the additional free agent season.
Either way, Boston’s desire to extend Anthony reflects the high potential that evaluators across the game see in his left-handed swing and his baseball sense. The trade of star third baseman Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants shortly after Anthony’s debut illustrated Boston’s commitment to its young core, and reallocating the money to Anthony adds to a solid group that has been the foundation of the team’s 7-1 run that has propelled it to the top of the American League Wild Card with 64-52.While his ground ball rate is high for a player with his raw power, Anthony’s swing decisions are considered elite by evaluators and supported by his offering at only 19.3% of pitches outside the strike zone, a figure that ranks 16th out of 337 MLB players with at least 150 at-bats this year through Wednesday.
Selected in the second round from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Florida in 2022, Anthony, 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, was projected as a high-average, high-on-base-percentage hitter who would grow into his power in an outfield position. Other Red Sox players signed at least through 2030 include left-hander Garrett Crochet and center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela (2031), right-hander Brayan Bello (2030) and infielder Kristian Campbell, like Anthony, one of the so-called “3 big” Boston prospects along with infielder Marcelo Mayer, who is signed through 2034.“We’re not done yet, but it’s going in the right direction. And signing our talented young homegrown players is a big part of that,” said team president Sam Kennedy.
Sam Kennedy
If Anthony had gone year after year in arbitration, he could have earned a maximum of $50 million in those seasons, assuming he didn’t reach the Super 2 cut in his class and earned a fourth year of arbitration, if he maintained his projected production level. Boston paid a higher price for his potential free agent years than other similar deals, but in doing so, it will avoid the potential windfall that Anthony would receive upon reaching free agency in his mid-20s.
