Brayan Bello, a right-hander, has agreed to a six-year contract deal with the Boston Red Sox worth $55 million, according to sources.
The agreement also contains salary escalators, a $1 million signing bonus, and a $21 million seventh-year club option.
Renowned for his potent changeup, Bello enjoyed a prosperous debut Major League season with a 4.24 ERA and 132 strikeouts in 157 innings pitched.
Bello has been a star performer with the Red Sox with a powerful sinker from the mid-1990s.
Since the Red Sox have had difficulty producing starting pitchers in recent years, Bello’s rise has been encouraging for the team.
For many years to come, Bello is anticipated to be a vital component of the team’s rotation.
The Red Sox have few alternatives for their rotation even though their farm system is full of talented hitters.
Wikelman Gonzalez, Luis Perales, and David Sandlin are right-handers who could end up becoming rotation mainstays in the future.
The Red Sox will probably add to their starting depth in the near future through trade and free agency.
Tanner Houck, Garrett Whitlock, Nick Pivetta, and Kutter Crawford are right-handers.
contenders to be added to Bello’s rotation in Boston.
Bello’s breakthrough performance made the Red Sox want to ask Bello to extend his contract.
The only players the team signed in the offseason were Lucas Giolito, Liam Hendriks, and Cooper Criswell.
Chairman Tom Werner promised the Red Sox a busy free agency period, but both Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Agents without charge The Red Sox have expressed interest in Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell, both of whom are still available.
