The Boston Red Sox on August 6 took a huge step toward securing their young core for the long haul with a surprise contract extension for Roman Anthony.
There was little to no smoke around a potential long-term deal for Anthony before MLB insider Jeff Passan broke the news of the eight-year, $130 million extension, with a $5 million signing bonus. The Red Sox made the deal official in the evening on August 6, two hours before first pitch in Boston's series finale against the Royals at Fenway Park.
Anthony's contract runs from 2026-33, with a club option for 2034. His salary will jump each year — he'll make $2 million in 2026, $4 million in 2027, $8 million in 2028, $15 million in 2029 and $19 million in 2030.
Passan reported that Anthony's deal contains escalators that could lift the maximum contract value to $230 million. He could play himself into at least one of them this season, but the escalators don't start to impact his earnings until 2031, at the earliest. The breakdown of Anthony's (complicated) contract escalators comes from Chris Cotillo of MassLive.
Details of Roman Anthony's Red Sox contract extension released
The #RedSox today signed OF Roman Anthony to an eight-year contract extension that spans the 2026-33 seasons, with a club option for 2034.
— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 6, 2025
If Anthony places first or second in the American League Rookie of the Year race, he'll earn an additional $1 million. His contract escalators will also begin in 2031 instead of 2032, which will be the case if he does not place in the top two in AL ROY voting.
Most of Anthony's extra money is tied up in potential MVP awards. He'll make an additional $2 million for winning AL MVP, and an extra $1 million for placing second or third, $750,000 for each fourth or fifth place finish, and $500,000 for each sixth-through-10th place finish.
Anthony will also collect a $200,000 bonus for each All-Star nomination he receives before the escalators kick in.
Anthony will reach the maximum price on his contract if he wins MVP every year from 2026-32, which is a huge ask, and likely impossible. The outfielder is just 21 years old and he had his entire rookie contract ahead of him, but the Red Sox locked him up for that, and then some. If he continues hitting at his recent pace (.348/.447/.500 in his last 30 games), the deal will be well worth it for both sides.