Red Sox extend another member of their young core in outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela to an 8-year deal (report)
The Red Sox locked up another member of their young core on Monday. The team and Ceddanne Rafaela are in agreement on a contract extension, per MassLive’s Chris Cotillo.
According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, Rafaela’s deal is for eight years and $50 million. Boston will have control over Rafaela through the 2031 season. Had he not agreed to this new deal, he would have been eligible for free agency in 2029 but will now be with the club until he’s 31.
Rafaela is the second player Boston has locked up in the past few weeks; the Red Sox signed starter Brayan Bello to a six-year, $55 million deal back in late March.
The deal is expected to become official in the coming days, reports Cotillo.
The versatile top prospect made his first Opening Day roster this spring as a center fielder. The 23-year-old’s strong spring catapulted him onto the 26-man roster. Through the first 10 games this season, Rafaela is hitting .239 with a double, two triples, and five RBIs.
Sam Kennedy was recently on the “Fenway Rundown” podcast, presented by MassLive, and he confirmed that chief baseball officer Craig Breslow was still in talks on contract extensions with young players. Kennedy did not confirm the players the club was engaged with, but it’s safe to say that Rafaela was one of the players.
Rafaela split last season between Double-A and Triple-A, where he mashed en route to Boston. He hit .302 with 20 homers, 31 doubles, three triples, and 36 stolen bases.
The premium defender is a candidate to play shortstop, while Trevor Story misses time on the injured list with a left shoulder subluxation. Breslow has been noncommittal to Rafaela making a position change. David Hamilton, Pablo Reyes and Romy Gonzalez should rotate at the position in the short-term.
The Red Sox reportedly made Rafaela their “No. 1 focus at the MLB level” in recent weeks, according to Cotillo. The move keeps Bello, Rafaela and Rafael Devers under contract long-term.
