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Roman Anthony explained why now was time to sign an 8-year extension with Red Sox
"I just wanted to be here, I wanted to play baseball in Boston for a long time.”
Roman Anthony is in Boston for the long haul.
After logging just 46 games in the big leagues, Anthony put pen to paper on an eight-year extension with the Red Sox that will keep him in Boston through at least the 2033 season — with a club option also in place for 2034.
The former No. 1 prospect in baseball is expected to become a franchise fixture in Boston, as evidenced by the aforementioned hefty contract that will feature $130 million in guaranteed salary, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Speaking to reporters shortly before Wednesday’s game against the Royals, Anthony said that his new contract came together quickly — with his two-month stint in the big leagues validating his desire to sign long-term with Boston.
“I wanted to be here, it was as simple as that. I wanted to be in Boston,” Anthony said. “Winning in Boston is different and I haven’t won anything yet, but for me over these last two months, the baseball we’re playing, the fans, the way they show up every night, it’s amazing. It’s a place like no other and for me it was simple, I just wanted to be here, I wanted to play baseball in Boston for a long time.”
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Even though the Red Sox already had plenty of team control over Anthony over the next few seasons, Boston’s decision to dole out a long-term contract secures the 21-year-old outfielder a sizable chunk of change right off the bat — while also buying four years of free agency.
Even though Anthony could have conceivably set himself up for an even greater payday if he opted to just sign bridge deals and hit free agency in his mid-20s, the rookie said that both he and the team were pleased with the security (and payout) achieved with this new contract.
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“They sent an offer over and for me as a player and as a person, with my family and agency, this is a place I want to be, there’s no doubt about it,” Anthony said. “So when the offer came through it was something I wanted to move quick on and there was no doubt this is where I wanted to play baseball for a long time.”
“This was someone we were willing to invest in and so when it got to the point where we had to make this effort, it was either going to work or it wasn’t,” Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow added. “And it was going to happen pretty quickly so it didn’t become a distraction on the field, and I think that’s where we ended up.”
Passan added that Anthony’s contract has escalators in place that could raise his contract from $130 million to $230 million — with those additional payouts contingent on whether or not Anthony establishes himself as one of the premier players in baseball.
According to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo, Anthony will secure that whole $230 million if he finishes first or second in AL Rookie of the Year voting this year, is named an All-Star for each season through 2033, and also wins AL MVP honors each season through 2033.
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Each individual All-Star nod or MVP win would boost his final payout, while finishing top-10 in MVP voting each year would also lead to an uptick in his final salary.
For Anthony, that convoluted contract structure signals that the Red Sox believe he has the means to become a superstar talent in due time.
“For me, as a player and as a competitor, I believe in myself every single day,” Anthony said. “I don’t know what the future holds but I do believe I will be the best version of myself every single day. For me, it was a deal that was obviously more than enough for me and my family in a place where I want to be. Those escalators just give me a chance to continue to grind every day, help this team win and be the best version of myself I can be each and every day.”
The Red Sox still have a way to go when it comes to securing a playoff bid this year and reasserting themselves as contenders.
But with Anthony joining a long list of younger players signed to long-term deals (Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Kristian Campbell), the gifted outfielder believes the future is bright with the Red Sox.
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“It’s a special group. You know, I try not to look too far into the future, and we’re having a lot of fun playing good baseball right now so just trying to stay present as best as possible, but it’s super exciting when you talk about how young we are and the mix that we have of great veteran guys that we have.
“So, there’s a lot to be excited about, and I’m excited, and knowing that in this process was a big reason as to why I wanted to stay here and be with those guys and grow with those guys.”
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