Boston Red Sox extend rookie star Roman Anthony for $130 million

The Boston Red Sox reached an agreement to keep one of the leading young stars in baseball in town for the foreseeable future.

The Red Sox agreed to an eight-year contract extension with 21-year-old outfielder Roman Anthony on Aug. 6, according to USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale. The extension is worth $130 million and will keep Anthony under contract through his age-30 season.

The discount includes a club option for the 2034 season and with incentives can max out at $230 million. Anthony will have the opportunity to banger the open market at his age 31 season in 2035, giving him another chance to cash in on a major discount.

According to MLB Trade Rumors, Anthony’s contract is the third largest handed out to a player with less than one year of MLB service time. Seattle’s Julio Rodriguez signed a $210 million extension in 2022 during his Rookie of the Year campaign.

Anthony ― who was the No. 79 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft out of Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida ― made his MLB debut against the Tampa Bay Rays on June 9 after opening the season as the leading prospect in baseball. He has a .283/.400/.428 slash line with two home runs and 19 RBI in 46 MLB games.

His .400 on base percentage leads all American League rookies.

Roman Anthony stats

Here’s a look at Anthony’s stats during his rookie season with the Red Sox. Anthony is currently seventh in the MLB and fourth in the American League with a 1.6 WAR, according to Fangraphs. He is the second-best rookie behind teammate Carlos Narváez (2.5 WAR).

• 2025: .283 batting average, .400 on base percentage, .428 slugging percentage, .828 OPS, two home runs, 19 RBI, 27 runs scored in 190 plate appearances in 46 games