Boston Red Sox rookie Roman Anthony has not just burst onto the major league scene, he’s redefined how quickly a franchise is willing to bet big on emerging talent.
Less than two months after his MLB debut, the 21-year-old outfielder has reportedly agreed to a staggering eight-year, $130 million contract extension, a deal that could balloon to $230 million through incentives tied to performance and awards, including where he finishes in AL Rookie of the Year voting.
The contract, first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan and pending a physical, is set to kick in for the 2026 season and will keep Anthony in Boston’s outfield through at least 2034.
If the club option is exercised and escalators are hit, Anthony‘s deal could rival the most lucrative pacts ever handed to a player so early in his career.
Anthony‘s meteoric rise began when he was drafted 79th overall in 2022 out of Florida’s Stoneman Douglas High School, signing for $2.5 million.
He quickly became one of baseball’s top prospects, and his star only grew brighter after an electric stretch with Triple-A Worcester, including a viral 497-foot grand slam just days before his call-up to the majors.
When he debuted at Fenway Park on June 9, the Red Sox were looking for a spark, and Anthony wasted no time delivering, his first MLB home run came a week later in Seattle, and he notched his first walk-off hit against the Astros on August 1.
So far in 46 big league games, Anthony has slashed .283/.400/.428 with two homers, 19 RBI, 15 doubles, and a dozen multi-hit games, an instant-impact stat line that made him a fixture at the top of Boston’s lineup.
His play has only reinforced why scouts raved about his smooth left-handed swing and disciplined approach at the plate.
A new era for Boston’s homegrown stars
For the Red Sox, locking up Anthony marks a dramatic shift from the past. Fans still talk about the departures of homegrown stars like Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts, both of whom left after Boston failed to secure early extensions.
The sting of those moves seems to have sparked a new strategy under the current front office, which has also handed long-term deals to emerging players like Brayan Bello, Ceddanne Rafaela, Kristian Campbell, and Garrett Crochet in recent years.
“Breaking: Outfielder Roman Anthony and the Boston Red Sox are finalizing an eight-year, $130 million contract extension, sources tell ESPN,” Passan reported.
“The deal, which is pending a physical, includes a club option and will keep Anthony under team control through 2034.
“Roman Anthony’s deal with the Red Sox will start in 2026 and includes significant escalators that could take the maximum value of the deal to $230 million. Depending on where he finishes in AL Rookie of the Year voting, it would buy out three or four years of free agency.”
Anthony‘s deal is also notable compared to similar extensions handed to rising stars across the league. Ronald Acuna Jr. signed for $100 million over eight years after a similar service time window.
Julio Rodriguez netted $210 million over 13 years. The message from Boston is clear: Anthony is seen as a cornerstone of the franchise for the next decade.
But the Anthony story isn’t just about big money or stats. His rise has brought attention to the entire Anthony family.
During his MLB debut, cameras frequently cut to his sister Lia Anthony, whose quick jump in social media followers became a quirky subplot to Roman‘s rookie year.
Lia later joked, “It’s been surreal. We were all in disbelief. But he’s got bigger things to focus on. He’s just been focusing on his debut and everything.”
Roman, for his part, has made it clear his focus remains between the lines, not on the off-field attention or the size of his contract.
“I just try to stay locked in, work hard, and help this team win,” Anthony said following his first walk-off hit.
With the Red Sox in the thick of a playoff race and Anthony already playing a key role, Boston fans can look forward to a decade of watching their new superstar develop, this time, with the front office betting he will spend the best years of his career at Fenway.
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