Roman Anthony Details Where Contract Extension Talks Stand With Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox have made it their mission to lock up their promising young players for the future.

They already did so with Kristian Campbell by giving him an eight year, $60 million contract extension with two team options that could pay the versatile infielder around $100 million over 10 years.

No one would blame Roman Anthony, who is considered the best hitting prospect in all of baseball, if Campbell’s payday made him think about the one he could get in the future. After all, many peg Anthony to be among the next in line for a contract extension.

The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier reported in early March that the Red Sox had “shown interest in discussing a long-term deal with Anthony this spring.” But with what Anthony had to say recently about contract talks, it doesn’t look like a deal for the 20-year-old outfielder will come anytime soon.

“Not anywhere significant at all,” Anthony told WEEI’s Rob Bradford this past weekend. “For me, it’s not really anything I’m thinking about. I think those guys were probably pretty far along in the spring and going into the season, as far as my knowledge of it. But as far as mine goes, nothing.”

Anthony did confirm that the topic of a contract extension was broached between the Red Sox and his representatives. But talks haven’t progressed like it did for Campbell or even Garrett Crochet, who signed a six-year, $170 million contract extension even after his deadline for Opening Day passed.

“It was mentioned,” Anthony said. “But to say there is anything … I wouldn’t say that. When I say this really wasn’t anything. I think it was just simply a completely different situation for those guys. For me it’s not really anything at all.”

Anthony getting a contract extension without any experience in the big leagues wouldn’t be unprecedented. The Milwaukee Brewers inked Jackson Chourio to an eight-year, $82 million deal before he even made it to the majors last season.

Anthony is off to a solid start with Triple-A Worcester this season, batting .283 with two home runs, seven RBIs and 13 walks in 13 games. The 2022 second-round draft pick also has the hardest-hit ball by a Red Sox player at Triple-A or in the big leagues when he lined a 113.1 mph single to center this past Sunday.

If Anthony keeps that up, a promotion to the big leagues could come soon and a contract extension not long after that.