59-day-old BOS outfielder commented on ESPN Juan Soto's abandonment of 179.8 billion jackpot contract

Aug 07, 2025

59-day-old BOS outfielder commented on ESPN Juan Soto's abandonment of 179.8 billion jackpot contract
Boston Red Sox Roman Anthony is playing against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park on the 7th (Korea time). AFP Yonhap News



The Boston Red Sox, who are racing fiercely in the second half of the year, are drawing attention by signing an eight-year long-term contract with a key prospect. The main character is Anthony, an outfielder who has been in the Major League for less than two months.

ESPN signed an eight-year contract with outfielder Roman Anthony, a former No. 1 prospect, on the 7th (Korea Standard Time). It is a condition of a total of 130 million dollars (about 179.8 billion won), including 5 million dollars of Sinning Bonus. 'Applying incentives and annual salary escalators will increase the total to up to $230 million,' it reported.

The contract runs from next year to 2033, with a club option of $30 million set in 2034. Starting with $2 million next year, the set annual salary will increase to 4 million → 8 million → 15 million → 19 million → 23 million → 25 million → 29 million. Anthony, who was born in March 2004, is 21 years old this year. In other words, he can be with Boston until the 29th season.




Anthony is the fifth player to sign a long-term contract worth more than $100 million before the age of 21. San Diego Padres Jackson Merrill ($135 million), Seattle Mariners Julio Rodriguez ($210 million), Tampa Bay Rays Wander Franco ($182 million), and Atlanta Braves Ronald Acuña Jr. ($100 million) are the first examples.

59-day-old BOS outfielder commented on ESPN Juan Soto's abandonment of 179.8 billion jackpot contract
Boston Red Sox Roman Anthony hits in the bottom of the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park on the 7th (Korea time). AP Yonhap News
In an interview with local media ahead of the Kansas City Royals game at Fenway Park, Anthony said, `Now we are playing great baseball. I don't want to hurt anyone in the team, but Boston is the team I really want to be with and I'm having fun playing baseball. I want to be as fast as I am now" expressed his feelings.

Anthony, a second-round 2022 draft pick, made his debut on June 10 against the Tampa Bay Rays. The big league service time was 59 days, less than two months ago. He played in the leadoff left field and was silent with no hits in four at-bats.




Anthony, a right-handed left-handed outfielder, has played in 47 games since his big league debut and has a batting average of 0.276 (45 hits in 163 at-bats), two homers, 19 RBIs, 27 points, 26 walks, 47 strikeouts, 2 steals, 0.392 on-base percentage, 0.417 slugging percentage and 0.809 OPS.

Boston reportedly planned a long-term contract with Anthony, who did not even make his major league debut during string training in March. After trading Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants in June, who had been in conflict over positional transfer, Anthony seems to have signed a long-term contract after deciding that he could grow into a star player as a left-handed hitter.

Players who are under contract until 2029 like Anthony in Boston include left-hander ace Garrett Crochet (2026-2031, six-year, $170 million), center fielder sedan Rafaela (2024-2031, eight-year, $50 million), right-hander Brian Beyo (2024-2029, six-year, $55 million) and infielder Christian Campbell (2025-2032, eight-year, $60 million).




59-day-old BOS outfielder commented on ESPN Juan Soto's abandonment of 179.8 billion jackpot contract
New York Mets Juan Soto. AP Yonhap News
ESPN said the deal gave up Anthony's opportunity to become a 26-year-old FA, which is unusual for top players. In other words, it means that Juan Soto, who signed with the New York Mets for 15 years and 765 million dollars last winter, gave up the path of Juan Soto, who signed with the New York Mets for 15 years and 765 million dollars last winter. Instead, he made a similar choice as Corbin Carroll signed an eight-year, 110 million-dollar contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks after the first big league season (2022)."

Anthony is said to be similar to Soto in his ability to tolerate his pioneering eyes, attraction, and natural power heating at bat.

Anthony is not likely to win the award because he participated in the AL Rookie of the Year competition late. Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz is the most likely candidate for AL Rookie of the Year, and the same team shortstop Jacob Wilson is also a rookie in the spotlight.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.