Brayan Bello and Red Sox agree to a $55 million, 6-year deal
The Red Sox and Brayan Bello are in agreement on a contract extension that will keep the homegrown starting pitcher in Boston for the remainder of his club control as well as his first two years of free agency.
A source confirms Kiley McDaniel's report for ESPN, that Bello's deal is for six years and $55 million with a $21 million club option for the 2030 season.
As the Herald previously reported, the right-hander will receive a signing bonus ($1 million) and the contract includes escalators.
While the average annual value (AAV) of Bello's contract adds $9.16 million to Boston's luxury tax payroll for each of the next six seasons, a source tells the Herald that the bulk of the total salary will be paid out in the latter half of the decade.
Bello, who will celebrate his 25th birthday in May, signed with the Sox in July '17, almost exactly five years before his big-league debut in '22.
Started strong
He dominated for most of his first full season in the Majors; after a rough '23 season debut, he posted a 2.56 ERA and held opposing batters to a .223 average and .635 OPS over his remaining 13 starts before the AllStar break.
As was the case with most of the Sox, the righty struggled down the stretch, particularly in September, when 22 earned runs over his remaining five starts (26 innings) brought his season totals to a 4.24 ERA over 28 starts.
The Red Sox have yet to confirm the news, but are expected to do so this weekend, when they're in Bello's native Dominican Republic for a twogame miniseries with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Both Bello and Alex Cora suggested as much to reporters on Thursday, as did chief baseball officer Craig Breslow when he was mic'd up during ESPN's broadcast of their game against the Atlanta Braves.
‘'I can't comment on that,'' Bello told reporters, ‘'but I can tell you that we might have some good news during the weekend in the Dominican Republic.
“It's gonna be great. I'm going to be able to spend time with my family and with my fans in the Dominican Republic and I'm sure we're going to have a good time.''