Ceddanne Rafaela agrees to eight-year extension with Red Sox
Boston Red Sox rookie Ceddanne Rafaela has agreed to an extension with the organization, beat reporter Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com first reported Monday.
According to MLB.com insider Mark Feinsand, the extension will be for eight years and $50 million.
This comes just weeks after the Red Sox inked young right-handed pitcher Brayan Bello to a six-year, $55 million extension. Rafaela is currently ranked as the Red Sox’s No. 4 prospect–behind Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony and Kyle Teel–and a top-75 prospect across MLB, according to MLB Pipeline.
He is the only current top-20 Red Sox prospect with Boston right now; David Hamilton, the team’s No. 21 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, was recalled over the weekend in lieu of Trevor Story‘s shoulder dislocation, and clobbered his first career homer during Sunday’s 12-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels.
Rafaela, 23, was promoted last August and has logged 124 career plate appearances at the MLB level. He’s posted a career slash line of .239/.282/.382 (.672 OPS; 84 OPS) with seven doubles, two triples, two home runs, 10 RBIs and four stolen bases (two caught stealing). So far this season, the rookie has posted a 101 OPS+, though his real impact has come in the field.
Rafaela, who’s been Boston’s primary center fielder so far this season, has been outstanding in the field with his range and routes. The numbers don’t quite back up the eye test–though he has already logged one OAA (outs above average) this season.
He’s been the Red Sox’s most playable center fielder because of what he can do in the field. Rafaela still had two more seasons after 2024 before he was scheduled to enter arbitration, which is a hairy process for organizations and their players if means aren’t met before the hearings. So locking up an eight-year deal for their up-and-coming center fielder sooner rather than later–especially at an inexpensive cost–is the best-case scenario for the Red Sox.
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