The Boston Red Sox and young pitching prospect Brayan Bello are reportedly deep in "advanced talks" regarding a long-term contract extension, as per Alex Speier of The Boston Globe.
With the team's ownership showing reluctance to invest heavily in external talent, extending homegrown players is a welcome development.
Previously, there were rumors that Bello was open to an extension and that discussions between both parties had started. Now, it seems they are making significant progress.
Obtaining a signing bonus of $28,000 from the Dominican Republic, Bello has continually outperformed in his ascension through the minor leagues.
Baseball America ranked him among the top 30 Red Sox prospects in both 2020 and 2021, eventually placing him at number five going into 2022.
In his breakout 2021 season, Bello threw an impressive 95 1/3 innings with a 3.87 ERA, a 32.8% strikeout rate, and a 7.7% walk rate. A little over fifty percent of the balls stayed put on the ground.
Following his addition to Boston's 40-man roster late in 2021, Bello saw action in the majors for the first time in 2022 with a 2.76 ERA in Triple-A and a total of 57 1/3 innings pitched. In this season, his major league ERA was 4.71, but his ground ball ratio (55.7%) and batting average on balls in play (.404) hinted that some of it could have just been unfortunate.
The beginning of his 2023 tenure with the Red Sox was marred by injury, as he began the season on the injured list due to elbow inflammation.
He came back in April but experienced some initial setbacks that led him to be reassigned to the minor leagues.
Following Garrett Whitlock's injury, the Red Sox put him back in and saw Bello in action for 21 games as their starter, maintaining a commendable 3.20 ERA.
Bello's below-average 19% strikeout mark was surpassed by a commendable 6.4% walk rate and an impressive 55% ground ball ratio.
Recognizing Potential
The Sox seem to believe in Bello's potential, as they are willing to invest in him despite his rough start and poor finish last year.
With just the small bonus he received when he signed with Boston, Bello has yet to bank significant earnings like top draft picks or international players.
Alex Speier, Sports Reporter for the Boston Globe, has covered the Red Sox for over fifteen years. He posted that the Red Sox and Brayan Bello "are deep in talks".
Given his young age and promising performance, extending Bello's contract now would give the Red Sox extra control over his services while also providing financial security for Bello.
Due to his one-year-and-82-day tenure, he won't satisfy the eligibility requirements for arbitration before the 2026 baseball season.
Striking a bargain could lead to an extended contract with increased compensation, moving the commencement of his free agency farther into the future.
are deep in talks about a long-term deal to keep him with the team beyond 2028.
Alex Speier
Following his 29th birthday in 2028, Bello's tenure with his current team will conclude and he will enter the free agency pool.
The Red Sox have been focusing on nurturing young talent and strengthening their farm system under former chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom.
Extending established prospects like Bello represents a natural progression in this effort.
With Lucas Giolito's possible injury casting doubt over the Red Sox rotation for 2024, Bello's role is expected to become even more significant.
The team's approach involves assessing potential improvements to its young and burgeoning roster.
The proposed agreement with Bello is gaining the most traction. For both parties, the timing could not be better.
As Bello prepares for his third major league season, the Red Sox aim to secure his services beyond his current contract.
In doing so, they can maintain a cost-effective and promising young core while also demonstrating their commitment to developing homegrown talent.
