Red Sox Contract Extension Talks Could ‘Heat Up’ In Spring Training

The Boston Red Sox will continue to look for external reinforcements while preparing for the 2025 MLB season.

That’s hardly the only path forward, though, as Red Sox president and CEO Sam Kennedy acknowledged Monday that Boston plans to aggressively pursue contract extensions with some of its own young players.

“There’s definitely extension conversations going on,” Kennedy said at the Red Sox’s “Truck Day” festivities outside Fenway Park, according to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. “I think those will heat up as we get into spring training.”

The Red Sox signed Brayan Bello and Ceddanne Rafaela to extensions last March and April, respectively, giving the club some cost certainty moving forward. Boston could take a similar approach this year, perhaps with even greater stakes.

Garrett Crochet, acquired from the Chicago White Sox this offseason in a blockbuster trade, has two years remaining on his contract but certainly is an extension candidate. The 25-year-old left-hander has the potential to lead Boston’s rotation for the foreseeable future, and the franchise might want to ensure he doesn’t reach the open market after the 2026 season.

The Red Sox also could explore contract extensions with homegrown big leaguers, like Triston Casas, Jarren Duran and/or Tanner Houck. Or perhaps they’ll focus on their prominent prospects — Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell — before those players even reach the majors.

Whatever the case, the Red Sox have financial flexibility and an emerging young core. So, while most of the talk these days centers around Alex Bregman, a star free agent who Boston has been connected to all offseason, there’s a chance the Sox focus just as much on internal negotiations while shaping their roster for the short- and long-term.