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3 hours ago
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The Boston Red Sox recently extended rookie Kristian Campbell with an eight-year, $60 million deal. However, the team could try to ensure he stays with the organization for the rest of his career.
Campbell is under club control through 2034. In his first 30 games with the big league team, he is slashing .290/.394/.477. He is showing exactly why he was the No.4 overall prospect in baseball and has already earned a $60 million payday. However, ESPN's Jeff Passan predicts the Red Sox will try to make sure he never hits the open market or wears another team's jersey.
"It's odd to include a player who signed an extension a month ago, but 22-year-old Campbell's bat is that special," wrote Passan. "Boston has him locked up for the next eight years at $60 million with two club options on top of that, which means if he makes it to free agency, Campbell will be 32 on Opening Day in ... 2035. If he is what the Red Sox think he is, though, chances are they'll try to make him a one-uniform player before then -- and that would be a $200 million-plus proposition."
Including Shohei Ohtani, there are 21 hitters with $200 million contracts right now. Giving Campbell $200 million would be a testament to the player the Red Sox think he is and will be.
He is still very early in his career and is likely a long way from more extension talks. However, if the team thinks they have a generational player on their hands, they may try to strike before his asking price starts to skyrocket.
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The Red Sox have known for a while the type of player Campbell could be. He was a highly regarded prospect and has quickly established himself as one of the best players on the team.
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