PLAN B.B. FOR BOSOX
Agree to $55M deal with Bello
After getting bad news about the biggest offseason addition to their rotation, the Red Sox are making a major long-term investment in the team’s top returning pitcher.
Young right-hander Brayan Bello agreed to a $55 million, sixyear contract Thursday that includes a club option for 2030. The move came together as Boston learned of an injury to Lucas Giolito, who headed to Alabama this week for a second opinion on his ailing right elbow.
Bello, who turns 25 in May, could have been eligible for arbitration after 2025 and could have become a free agent following the 2028 season.
The contract includes a $21 million team option for 2030 with a $1 million buyout that, if exercised, would make the agreement worth $75 million over seven seasons.
Bello went 12-11 with a 4.24 ERA in 28 starts last season while striking out 132 and walking 45 in 157 innings. He figures to head a rotation that remains a concern.
The 29-year-old Giolito signed a $38.5 million, two-year contract with the Red Sox and started two spring training games before reporting elbow discomfort.
Giolito went 8-16 with a 4.88 ERA in 33 starts last season while pitching for the White Sox, Angels and Guardians. He made at least 30 starts each of the last three seasons and was a 2019 All-Star.
HARRIS’ HOT START
Michael Harris II hit his third Grapefruit League homer Thursday, a third-inning drive off Boston’s Tanner Houck in the Braves’ 3-2 victory. Harris is 8 for 18 with six runs and five RBI.
Harris was batting just .200 with a .499 OPS at the end of April last year, though he fared much better the rest of the way and finished with a .293 average and .808 OPS in 138 games.
CHAPMAN SUITS UP
Third baseman Matt Chapman was set to make his first Cactus League appearance since joining the Giants on a $54 million, three-year deal.
Chapman was in the starting lineup as the No. 5 hitter in Thursday night’s game against the Dodgers.
CUBS’ KILIAN INJURED
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said right-hander Caleb Kilian has a teres major strain and is expected to be out until the AllStar break. The teres major muscle attaches to the upper arm and scapula.
Kilian, 26, was 0-1 with a 16.88 ERA in three appearances for the Cubs last season while also going 8-3 with a 4.56 ERA in 25 appearances for Triple-A Iowa. He started 24 games for Iowa and notched 95 strikeouts and 36 walks over 120 ⅓ innings.
SIZZLING WALSH
Texas’ Jared Walsh hit an RBI single in the Rangers’ 7-5 victory over the Diamondbacks and has how reached base in 10 of his 20 plate appearances.
Wyatt Langford, the fourth overall pick in last year’s amateur draft, hit a sacrifice fly and tied for the team lead with eight RBI.