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The Red Sox and star prospect are in deep talks regarding a potential contract extension, according to a report from . The terms of the potential deal between the sides are not yet clear. For his part, Campbell told reporters (including ) after this evenings game that his camp is talking to the Red Sox about an extension but would not say whether or not hed consider a deal to be close or not. While Campbell wouldnt tip his hand about the negotiations, that one source described the deal as close and adds that a source with the Red Sox described the team as hopeful that a deal would come together. Campbell, 22, was Bostons fourth-round pick in the 2023 draft. Despite his later-round draft status, he hit quite well in 22 games down the stretch in his draft year before exploding onto the prospect map last year. After starting the season at the High-A level, Campbell blitzed through the minor leagues to reach Triple-A by the end of the season, slashing a sensational .330/.439/.558 along the way with 20 homers, 32 doubles, and 24 steals in 115 games along the way while splitting time between shortstop, second base, and the outfield. Campbells incredible performance made him a consensus top-10 prospect in the sport over the course of a single season, as he had not cracked a single major top-100 list prior to the 2024 campaign. After making to to Triple-A before the end of the year last season and doing well for himself there (.286/.412/.486 in 85 PAs), Campbell was bandied about throughout the winter as a potential option for the clubs Opening Day second base job. Those plans appeared likely to be scuttled when the club signed to round out their infield last month, which led many to a sume he would fill the void at the keystone with entrenched at third base. The clubs desire to give Campbell a path to playing time in the majors changed things, however, and the Red Sox positioned Bregman as their Opening Day third baseman instead. That pushed Devers into a DH role and opened up second for a competition between incumbent options and as well as prospects Campbell and . Hamiltons solid 2024 and strong spring, Mayers blistering performance during camp, and struggles from Campbell himself during Spring Training all made the camp battle for the second base so competitive that just under Brendan Rodgers Jersey 31% of respondents to an selected Campbell as the clubs Opening Day second baseman. He departed camp with the keys to the position nonethele s after being viewed as the favorite for much of the spring. The Red Sox are, of course, only three games into the regular season at this point. Even so, rostering Campbell has looked like a wise decision so far as hes collected five hits in ten at-bats with a double, a home run, and two walks while playing adequate defense both at second base and in left field. With a player who could be a burgeoning star on their hands, the Red Sox appear to be wasting no time in attempting to lock him up beyond his standard six years of club control, which figure to keep him in town through the end of the 2030 season as things stand. The club in exploring deals with their top prospectsCampbell, Mayer, and outfielder as far back as January. While the club appeared focused primarily on attempting to lock up ace southpaw during Spring Training, a pursuit they ultimately fell short in, the Red Sox demonstrated their comfort with continuing negotiations into the season just last year when they utility man on an eight-year, $50MM deal. It was part of an organizational shift towards locking up young talent earlier in their careers last spring, which also saw the club sign right-hander to a six-year, $55MM extension. Campbell is generally viewed as being on another level compared to those two, however, even as Rafaela and Bello were impre sive prospects in their own rights. Its po sible that prospect pedigree and offensive upside could translate to a healthier guarantee, with the eight-year, $82MM deal signed with the Brewers prior to the 2024 campaign serving as another potentially relevant point of comparison. Whatever the financial cost ends up being, it will likely pale in comparison to what Campbell would make on the open market if he were to hit free agency ahead of his age-29 season after fulfilling his potential. That potential for an enormous discount would be offset by the considerable risk a sumed by the Red Sox in the event of injury or under-performance on the part of Campbell. and are among the handful of examples of players who signed extensions at the outset of their MLB careers who went on to fizzle out in the majors, though the Red Sox surely have plenty of confidence in Campbell to avoid the same fate. Matt Carasiti Jersey
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