The Boston Red Sox came to terms on an eight-year extension with rookie second baseman Kristian Campbell on Wednesday.
Campbell, Boston’s No. 2 prospect, made the big league team after he impressed during spring training. He’s gotten off to a hot start this season with a .375 average (6-for-16), .688 slugging percentage and 1.188 OPS.
MassLive reported that the two sides were deep in talks about an extension three days into Campbell’s career.
The Red Sox have made it a priority to lock up younger players of late and Campbell is the latest example of that.
Here’s what those around MLB are saying after the Red Sox signed Campbell to a long-term extension.
“These are how pre-arbitration deals work. People see the numbers and compare them to FA deals or arb deals. That’s not the way to look at this. Campbell wanted financial security and the Red Sox got a deal that locks him in for 10 seasons under their control.”
“The Red Sox’s continued spending — they locked up ace Garrett Crochet to a six-year, $170 million deal earlier this week — enriches a long-term core that includes Devers signed until 2033, superutilityman Ceddanne Rafaela through 2031, Crochet and right-hander Brayan Bello through 2030 and the forthcoming arrival of Campbell’s running mates in Boston’s Big 3 prospects, outfielder Roman Anthony and shortstop Marcelo Mayer.
“At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Campbell will be the solution for a second-base position held down for more than a decade by Dustin Pedroia. Since his retirement following the 2017 season, the Red Sox have been led in games played at second by six different players in seven years.”
“The 22-year-old Campbell has made a meteoric rise from fourth-round pick in the 2023 Draft to starting at second base for the Red Sox on Opening Day this year. Ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 6 overall prospect, Campbell has wasted no time validating his hype.”
“Per a source, Kristian Campbell’s deal includes a $2M signing bonus with club options of $19M in 2033 ($4M buyout) and $21M in 2034.”
“Less than two years ago, Kristian Campbell was the No. 255 prospect in his draft class. Today? He just signed a $60 million extension and ranks No. 4 on our Top 100.
“Incredible rise in a short amount of time.”
“While he hasn’t been perfect at second base, Campbell’s positional versatility is an added bonus to what the 22-year-old has shown to be capable of at the plate in an extremely small sample size. He’s played four games at second and one in left, making him that much more valuable to the big league club moving forward.”
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