Boston might as well extend a few of its current players if it isn’t going to spend money on new ones.
Many of the promises made by the Boston Red Sox front management at the start of the 2023–24 offseason have not been fulfilled.
Before the season starts, or even throughout it, the guys in control still have time and options to make the spectators pleased.
The Red Sox have emphasized prospects as the greatest approach to improve the squad for a number of seasons. Since Chaim Bloom became chief baseball officer, a wave of prospects has made it to the majors, and their influence is already evident. A few have even managed to become the favorites of the fans.
Boston has a chance to play Braves-style baseball. Young players should be extended before they have an opportunity to increase their value unnecessarily and before other organizations start to express interest. While the Red Sox have started to pitch some of their young players as though extensions are imminent, actually closing a contract is a far different matter.
Boston is aware that waiting too long to sign players can lead to significantly larger price tags; the Red Sox Nation is not in need of a reminder of the mistakes made with Mookie Betts and the departure of Xander Bogaerts.
This is the front office’s opportunity to atone for its previous transgressions. While there will never be complete forgiveness for trading Betts, it would be a terrific place to start to extend some other homegrown talent.
Bradley Bello
The pitching prospects available to the Red Sox are not very good. Zack Scott, who worked in Boston’s front office for 17 seasons, conducted research and found that the Red Sox have the 29th best pitching prospect pool in the league.
Since Brayan Bello is the strongest pitching prospect the Sox have at home, they should sign him to a long-term contract. Even though Bello’s contract is set to expire in 2026, signing a contract now would guarantee Boston a good price for his services down the road.
Bello just finished his first complete pitching season with success. In 2023, Bello recorded a 4.24 ERA with 124 strikeouts in 157 innings pitched. In addition, he has a strong walk rate, throwing out free passes in just 6.7% of plate appearances.
Bello has a remarkable ground ball percentage of 56.3%, according to Baseball Savant. Bello needs to limit the amount of long balls he throws because Fenway Park is known for having a shallow outfield, where he will pitch the most of his games.
The Red Sox and the righty have both indicated interest in extending their contract. Obtaining Bello’s long-term signature would relieve some of the strain on the existing state of affairs for the organization. Furthermore, it’s never a bad idea to invest in pitching.
Casas Triston
In his first full season wearing a Red Sox uniform, Triston Casas has established himself as the team’s favorite. The 24-year-old has a strong presence at the bat and exudes charisma.
Casas had a slow start to the 2023 season, but he picked up speed after the All-Star break, finishing the second half of the season with the fourth-best OPS in the league. Casas’s one-season makeover points to his coachability and adaptability, two traits that could help him develop his defense for the course of his major league career.
Casas hit.263/.367/.490 with 24 home homers in 132 games. These figures will soar if the lefty can realize his post-All-Star break promise for the whole of the upcoming season. Casas walks a lot as well; his walk rate puts him in the 93rd percentile. His ability to reach base is critically needed in the Red Sox lineup that is devoid of so many players right now.
Casas indicated a desire for an extension with Boston, just like Bello did. The Red Sox should sign the young hitter before other teams realize how valuable he is and the arbitration process becomes complicated.
Vaughn Grissom
This summer, the Red Sox acquired Vaughn Grissom, a former Braves prospect, as part of the Chris Sale transaction. By all accounts, Grissom will prove to be a worthy reward for Sale.
Grissom’s work ethic was praised by Braves TV analyst Nick Green during a podcast episode titled “Baseball Isn’t Boring”. He said that the 23-year-old’s defense might completely change if he were to play him every day. Additionally, he has already begun practicing on that side of the ball after attending Trevor Story’s infield camp for a week during the summer.
Grissom fared better in the major leagues in 2022 than he did in 2023, but his at-bats in the major leagues are very promising. In 64 big-league games, he is hitting.287/.339/.407, with his first career home run being at Fenway Park.
The former top prospect is under contract through 2026, but the Red Sox should think about adding him to their long-term plans if he has a good rookie season. Because the investment would be below market value, it wouldn’t hinder the organization either. Thus, in the unlikely event that Grissom or anyone else who signs one of these fictitious deals falters, the front office can bounce back very quickly.