Rather than trade perennial faces of the franchise to run an “efficient” business, the Boston Red Sox are implementing a new strategy in an attempt to retain their next superstar.
Despite not even logging half a season in the majors, on Wednesday, the club inked 21-year-old Roman Anthony to an eight-year, $130 million contract. It’s an attempt to get Anthony, a potential MVP-caliber talent, at yesterday’s price tag.
Boston used the same blueprint to extend breakout Ceddanne Rafaela and Kristian Campbell, with the latter quickly sent back to AAA after struggling in every facet of the game.
Anthony’s deal is a bit different: it’s nearly twice as lucrative as the other examples, and with a logjam in the outfield, it signals that he has a cemented place on this team.
That could all but seal the fate of former All-Star Game MVP Jarren Duran, who Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter thinks could be on the outs at the end of the season.
“With Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, and rookie Roman Anthony all vying for playing time, Duran is the most logical trade candidate of the bunch in terms of value and remaining control,” Reuter wrote. “Flipping him for a controllable pitcher to bolster the starting rotation is something the Boston front office will need to seriously consider.”
Even in a depleted American League, Boston’s back-of-the-rotation arms of Dodger castoffs Dustin May and Walker Buehler aren’t capable of helping for a pennant push.
Dumping Duran, despite his impact in the community and love for the city, for a high-end arm could transform this fun squad into a viable threat.
