The Red Sox and star prospect Kristian Campbell are in “deep talks” regarding a potential contract extension, according to a report from Chris Cotillo of MassLive. The terms of the potential deal between the sides are not yet clear. For his part, Campbell told reporters (including WEEI’s Rob Bradford) after this evening’s game that his camp is talking to the Red Sox about an extension but would not say whether or not he’d consider a deal to be “close” or not. While Campbell wouldn’t tip his hand about the negotiations, Cotillo reports that one source described the deal as “close” and adds that a source with the Red Sox described the team as “hopeful” that a deal would come together.
Campbell, 22, was Boston’s fourth-round pick in the 2023 draft. Despite his later-round draft status, he hit quite well in 22 games down the stretch in his draft year before exploding onto the prospect map last year. After starting the season at the High-A level, Campbell blitzed through the minor leagues to reach Triple-A by the end of the season, slashing a sensational .330/.439/.558 along the way with 20 homers, 32 doubles, and 24 steals in 115 games along the way while splitting time between shortstop, second base, and the outfield. Campbell’s incredible performance made him a consensus top-10 prospect in the sport over the course of a single season, as he had not cracked a single major top-100 list prior to the 2024 campaign.
After making to to Triple-A before the end of the year last season and doing well for himself there (.286/.412/.486 in 85 PAs), Campbell was bandied about throughout the winter as a potential option for the club’s Opening Day second base job. Those plans appeared likely to be scuttled when the club signed Alex Bregman to round out their infield last month, which led many to assume he would fill the void at the keystone with Rafael Devers entrenched at third base. The club’s desire to give Campbell a path to playing time in the majors changed things, however, and the Red Sox positioned Bregman as their Opening Day third baseman instead. That pushed Devers into a DH role and opened up second for a competition between incumbent options David Hamilton and Vaughn Grissom as well as prospects Campbell and Marcelo Mayer.
Hamilton’s solid 2024 and strong spring, Mayer’s blistering performance during camp, and struggles from Campbell himself during Spring Training all made the camp battle for the second base so competitive that just under 31% of respondents to an MLBTR poll last week selected Campbell as the club’s Opening Day second baseman. He departed camp with the keys to the position nonetheless after being viewed as the favorite for much of the spring. The Red Sox are, of course, only three games into the regular season at this point. Even so, rostering Campbell has looked like a wise decision so far as he’s collected five hits in ten at-bats with a double, a home run, and two walks while playing adequate defense both at second base and in left field.
With a player who could be a burgeoning star on their hands, the Red Sox appear to be wasting no time in attempting to lock him up beyond his standard six years of club control, which figure to keep him in town through the end of the 2030 season as things stand. The club reportedly had interest in exploring deals with their top prospects—Campbell, Mayer, and outfielder Roman Anthony— as far back as January. While the club appeared focused primarily on attempting to lock up ace southpaw Garrett Crochet during Spring Training, a pursuit they ultimately fell short in, the Red Sox demonstrated their comfort with continuing negotiations into the season just last year when they extended utility man Ceddanne Rafaela on an eight-year, $50MM deal.
It was part of an organizational shift towards locking up young talent earlier in their careers last spring, which also saw the club sign right-hander Brayan Bello to a six-year, $55MM extension. Campbell is generally viewed as being on another level compared to those two, however, even as Rafaela and Bello were impressive prospects in their own rights. It’s possible that prospect pedigree and offensive upside could translate to a healthier guarantee, with the eight-year, $82MM deal Jackson Chourio signed with the Brewers prior to the 2024 campaign serving as another potentially relevant point of comparison.
Whatever the financial cost ends up being, it will likely pale in comparison to what Campbell would make on the open market if he were to hit free agency ahead of his age-29 season after fulfilling his potential. That potential for an enormous discount would be offset by the considerable risk assumed by the Red Sox in the event of injury or under-performance on the part of Campbell. Jon Singleton and Scott Kingery are among the handful of examples of players who signed extensions at the outset of their MLB careers who went on to fizzle out in the majors, though the Red Sox surely have plenty of confidence in Campbell to avoid the same fate.
10 years, $150 mil
Just guessing
pray to god this is real
Is it deep talks like James Earl Jones or Morgan Freeman, or more philosophical like Aristoteles?
“Deep Talks, by Jack Handy”
Great pull! Mahalo for the laugh!
One thing kids like is to be tricked. For instance, I was going to take my little nephew to Disneyland, but instead I drove him to an old burned-out warehouse. “Oh, no,” I said. “Disneyland burned down.” He cried and cried, but I think that deep down, he thought it was a pretty good joke. I started to drive over to the real Disneyland, but it was getting pretty late.
– Jack Handey
Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey
If you ever fall off a tall building, just go limp like a fake dummy. Then someone will try to catch you because, hey, free dummy.
16/$240M
Gbs – This is one guy I’d approve. Really, really like him.
I’m not sure he would take that deal. I think it would probably have to be closer to 280-300 for 16 years
12yrs/$200
26 yrs/$766M
Underrated comment.
Changed my mind to 7yrs/$100
I think it will be a 8-9 year deal, probably 8, so they can lock in at least his first 2 free agent years at an affordable rate. I’ll guess 8 years/$80M.
Just trade him to the Braves.
Trade him to the cubs for mervis.
I know you’re joking but Mervis is in Miami
@cc. Definitely was satire. The rankings system is a joke. I don’t think this site even reported it. Just my thoughts on that.
Rex, what rankings system?
@gbs42. Prospect rankings
Chourio got 8/82, so around that price and I wouldn’t be upset about it. Let’s see what they work out.
Hitting .500 after 3 gms
Sox scrambling to retain potential superstar long term
So much for his slow spring
Bing – It’s not just the results, he’s got a good head on his shoulders. So yeah pay the man!
What abt an acuna deal?
8 yr/100mil & 2 xtra tm options? (10/134 if exercised)
He hit a bomb this afternoon. Just flicked the wrists and turned around a fastball at the top of the zone. It was pretty.
Gotta extend them while they’re young. Give them life changing money and security and hope they pan out otherwise front offices are paying premium prices for the likely decline years
Sweet – It’s refreshing when the Sox finally pay a player who is healthy and productive.
I like the versatility with Campbell and Rafaela. I imagine eventually they’ll be regulated to one position but their flexibility to move around will help the roster giving some players like Devers are locked into a spot
7 years 65 million
Sweet – Rafaela has yet to demonstrate the ability to play SS or hit. He needs to improve a lot to be in the same discussion as Campbell.
I think Rafaela will be gone soon. He’s got a great contract, but you’ve gotta make room for Anthony. I can’t see us trading Abreu. It’s possible to sell high on 27 year old Durran, but I think Rafaela is the odd man out.
The only problem is Ceddane is a natural CF with the speed for the position. And for at least 81 games a year, you need *two* guys who are basically CF because of how RF at fenway plays.
Anthony is not much of a CFer… for all his talents, he’s really got a profile of more of a corner guy. So that then begs the question, what the alignment ought to be. It’d be a much easier answer if Abreu could just not have as bad of a platoon split. Duran is probably the better all around player, but, is also older.
GaSox – Last year Abreu couldn’t improve vs LHP because he wasn’t given the chance by Cora.
So far this year that’s changed, hopefully it continues.
BTW – I wrote a great long response to one of your posts in another article but I lost it and can’t find your response again … sorry 🙁
8/90. That plays for both sides. Was Chuorio rated higher? I can’t remember.
He gets life changing cash and can still become an FA at a youngish age. If he’s on a Mookie path, you renegotiate in 4 years , rip up the original agreement offer something like 10/575.
They need to lock this up, along with Mayer, Crochett and Anthony and then they have the base of a solid team moving forward. Of course they currently have the worst(10K in 12 AB!)/most expensive DH already locked up for eternity so they nailed that one!
I love these deals because even if the player just turns out averagish, you still get value for your money.
Chuorio was a substantially higher regarded prospect. But I think the contract will be similar as Campbell is still highly regarded in his own right and both sides will be motivated given the unique circumstances with Campbell.
Chourio BA #2, MLB #2, BP #6
Campbell was #4, #7, #3
Chourio was also barely 20 when he became a regular. Campbell is close to 23.
@casualfan Seems high, though. Guaranteeing all years of team control and guaranteeing two FA years rather than, say, making them team options with respectable buyouts….
I don’t spend a lot of time on contract details—is there much precedent for this particular structure?
That works out, very roughly, to something like 760k, 900k, 1.5m, 6m, 10m, 15m, then two FA years at 28m, 28m.
Lock him in for extra cheap and hope he turns into somewhat of a star. Interesting strategy…
York – In baseball as in life, there are bad risks and good risks.
Rafaela = Bad risk
Campbell = Good risk
I love they are in talks. I still have to ask the difference between talks and deep talks.
It’s when Craig Breslow told Campbell “I love you”.
Cards – Not sure if serious but deep talks mean they are very close and a deal is highly likely.
Looks like they learned from Mookie
Who is they?
What did they learn?
Balls deep.
If this guy is worth the money being talked about then what is Jackson Merrill worth ?
$342 million.
There’s a lot more than two failed contracts like this. All of them seem to be forgotten years before those contracts are done.
I don’t get it. Arbitration favors teams. They get the best years in those first seven years over 90% of the time.
Is Wander Franco really gone? If he comes back next year will he be that good that the contract will be good? The big years of it have not come due yet.
Wander Franco if he avoids prison will never get a visa allowing him into this country. He’s dome and the Rays are done paying him.
Heels – There are good extension decisions and bad ones.
Don’t let the bad ones turn you off on all of them, some are quite good.
Dang, if he made that catch they might have won.
He IS a ballplayer!
I was right about Campbell.
Devers at DH. The world has improved since someone got me banned. Whether it was Sad Sox 3 or Bruin1012 doesn’t much matter to me. Time away gave me perspective. Not a whole lot of intelligent contributors makes this the equivalent of a bar where people go to boast about their knowledge of the game not the great baseball discussion site I had hoped for. Too bad because the ones with baseball smarts seem to have disappeared thanks to all the yappers and kids contributing without any filters or forethought…
With Devers going to DH after it being one of my mantras for 8 years I feel real good about how much better the defense will be with Bregman. I think it will add 10 wins as I’ve stated before. Cora might want to play his players at their normal position and stop forcing bench players into the line-up so the defense is maximized. Moving Duran out of left so a 2B can play there and playing a lesser defensive player at 2B hurts the defense significantly and the bat at 2B was a step down compared to the player who had to sit to allow Hamilton in the line-up. Those moves cost the team a win per series. If you think Hamilton needs at bats, use him at DH the current guy sucks and needs to go on the trading block to fix the clubhouse. Crochet and Buehler should turn out well if they stay healthy but Houck, Fitts and anyone else including GIolito eventually or Crawford eventually are all pretty shaky. The team needs to score runs and play defense to win 91. (That’s 81 plus 10 for moving Devers).
Just wanted to say hi since someone got me banned and only two guys other than FPG had any reason to based on losing arguments. Hope to drop in occasionally to give you updates on whether they are on a 91 win pace. At 1-2, they need to win on Sunday to keep pace.
hey man , if you are seriously worried about winning or losing “arguments” on an anonymous online chat forum you need to find a real hobby. just saying.
Dan – I’ll assume the “you” in your first statement means any person and not specifically me because I don’t worry about losing arguments. I present facts that’s all. When they conflict with wild opinions, then there is tension by the other person. Retaliation through insult is their usual reaction and frankly it’s simply a measure of how mature the other contributor is. Whoever got me banned, takes this way too seriously and personalizes it. Stating facts shouldn’t offend anyone.
pretty sure it was directed at you KD
acell10 – So you are suggesting John Dan is a complete tool and can’t read what I wrote? Hope he doesn’t mind you suggesting that. Clearly, I never suggested I was worried about winning or losing arguments so he’d need to be a remedial reader much like you or just a annoying twit just like you to jump into a conversation that had nothing to do with you and take a cheap shot at another person on the website.
I say don’t judge others by yourself!!
Saga there’s one thing I would never do and that’s get someone banned. I’m a big boy I can fight my own battles welcome back Saga. I actually have no problem with back and forth and contentiousness between us I live for that stuff I’m a fighter.
PCFCHL
Poster
Child
For
Clean
Healthy
Living
“I’m a fighter”.
Bruin1012 – Good to know. My last comment was to you so the smoking gun was in your hand.. If you say you didn’t I believe you.
FYI … Mayer looked good in spring training but made a very bad comment about how he earned a spot on the roster. The front office pretended it didn’t matter but public negativity is going to cost him. It reminded me of Devers comments this spring about him being the 3B. Complete arrogance. Those comments triggered Cora’s “I am the boss mode and got Devers moved to DH immediately. Lets hope for Mayer’s sake, the impact of his arrogance is punished less.
Very happy both Campbell and Rafaela are doing well. The pitching looks weak after Crochet and Buehler but Fitts was a pleasant surprise today. His stuff isn’t as good as Houck’s but his control seems better than Houck’s to start the season.
I told you Giolito would be close to 14 months before he was starting to resemble his good self. I’m disappointed Hendriks is struggling. I hope he makes it back because I don’t trust Chapman for a full season with Cora.
I’m not sure Wong can prove last year wasn’t a career year. He needs to hit like last year but he definitely needs to bat last. They need to string Campbell, Abreu and Rafaela back to back to back and leave Wong after the trio.
I can’t believe how guys like Sale and deGrom leave games with leads and end up not getting wins. Now Fried is in NY and clown Boone pulled him with a 10 run lead with 2 outs in the 5th just to prove the name on the front is more important than the back. Boone isn’t bright enough to figure out he’s reducing Fried’s next contract by costing him wins when he doesn’t have to.
I’m going to check in every once in a while to see if any intelligent topics are being discussed. I’m hoping to see better discussions and less FPG and the youngsters arguing about ridiculous topics like poor Devers being treated unfairly after screwing the pitching staff for 8 years. Wow has the baseball IQ dropped over the years on this website. Tell the over paid and over weight cry baby to grow up and act like an adult ball player making far too much money than his skills can justify.
I also want to thank Cora for helping the inept Breslow move Devers to DH. That one move alone will make up for his dozens of mistakes during the year that usually costs Boston at least 10 games. My first words of praise for Cora. It’s a scary time we live in..
Thanks for letting me know you didn’t create the ban. There are several strong candidates especially when you consider their character.
Fried just signed a brand new 6 year contract and “Boone is reducing his next contract by removing him with 2 outs in the 5th inning” ( at 94 pitches in his 1st start , in March , with a 10 run lead and with 2 starting pitchers on DL) ?! LOL . this is the funniest thing i read all day . hahaha
KD: there has been almost zero bad publicity directed at Mayer. He answered a question about making the team honestly. I appreciate his competitiveness.
John – Learn the game and come back to discuss why Fried a veteran of many years would need to stop pitching before 100 pitches. The guy is a 9 year veteran who has thrown over 165 innings every year since 2019 except for the COVID season and the 2023 when he was hurt. You can’t manage afraid of your own shadow. Boone’s a putz. Seems like you are too. Again, think before you write stupid crap.
So getting people banned is your new thing? What goes around comes around in life!!..I sure hope you didn’t do it.
FYI… Mayer’s comments made the MLB channel and was discussed at length on the broadcast of today’s Red Sox game so the bad publicity like everything else I write is a fact not an opinion. The opinion was me worrying that it might hurt his future.
You do realize nobody cares that you think an immature opinion is completely fine to be aired in public?. The people that matter care like Cora. Think of all the guys that had issues with Cora for speaking out. Verdugo is a perfect example and now Devers for his inappropriate comments. Competitiveness isn’t running your mouth off, it’s playing hard and being part of a team. Mayer lacks maturity and has an excessive ego based on this comment. Here is a fourth pick who has not performed well until 2024 and after ONE season of nearly living up to his hype he thinks spring training where you hit against weak pitchers is his proof he’s great? That’s a joke. Hubris that’s all it is and like I said I hope his immaturity doesn’t come back to bite him.
Hahaha. too funny
Reading this Headline brought me back College Memories of Deep Meaningful Relationships lol.
Why?
Amongst the prevailing sky is falling criticism of baseball’s most successful management in terms of winning rings this century
We finally have a team that’s no longer setting its sites on improving in future years at the expense of the current. We have a ring worthy roster with plenty of depth for adjustments if need be. It’s finally all about winning now
Patience. Devers and Casas will deliver 60 HR. Bregman, Story, Rapahela and Campbell will provide the RHed pop we lacked last year
Enjoy this team. Took a lot of mostly solid planning along with expected missteps to get here. Patience. No knee jerk trades and let’s give this roster and its no accident flexibility to shuttle kids around for the next couple months. They’re gonna be fun to watch and in the thick of things vying for the division and a ring.
I agree with locking up your young talent. I’m guessing 7 years and 85 mill. They may have missed on crochet already. We’ll see if that one bites us in the butt
@Qunnap89 7/85m for 2026-2032 including two FA years (ages 24 to 30) getting the 2nd FA year makes sense, though it’s high for a player with 3-4 games played.
Leaving the Red Sox with no way out and committing to Campbell’s first two FA years at roughly $23 million each takes a significant bite out of plans to contend in 2031 and 2032 if Campbell doesn’t make it and / or gets hurt. I’d rather see the Sox have an out if Kristian’s career comes to a screeching halt due to injury or other reason. I think the Braves negotiated a $10m buyout against the two option years at the end of Acuna’s deal.
Something like that seems fair, with perhaps a slightly higher price for the team option years to compensate.
Seven paragraphs on something “Nick Deeds” has absolutely no inside information. More non-substance articles about fake leads on trade scenario’s and extensions from twenty-something year olds adolescents.
In other redsox news
Devers first player in mlb History with 10 K’s in opening 3 games
Sweet baby jesus
Speaking of that..do we think these shoulder issues are more serious than is being reported?
Pool – It’s possible but I would think it would have been revealed as a perfect excuse for the demotion to DH.
Was Campbell wearing his infielders glove while playing the outfield last night? A slightly larger glove may have allowed him to secure a liner that he just missed. It looked smaller than a regular outfielders glove.
8 yrs/$85M + 2 club options @ $25M/yr. Total potential value 10 yr/$135M. Returns to FA at 33 yrs old.
1% paid in gold and 1% paid in silver annually.
Sounds fair to me.
Swing reminds me of betts
They compared it to ohtani the way his hips fly open on the broadcast sat