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FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Red Sox have committed in recent weeks to building around their young core. They took an important step in that process on Thursday, signing emerging ace Brayan Bello to a six-year contract extension.
The deal, first reported by ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel, is expected to be worth $55 million and includes a seventh-year club option for $21 million, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.
This will give the 24-year-old the opportunity to celebrate his long-term contract in person with his closest friends and family.
“Yes, I can’t comment on that,” Bello said when asked about reports of his new contract. “But I can tell you that we may have some good news over the weekend in the Dominican Republic. It will be great. “I’m going to be able to spend time with my family and my fans in the Dominican Republic and I’m sure we’re going to have a good time.”
For a long time, the Red Sox struggled to develop homegrown starting pitchers.
The Red Sox signed Bello at age 18 as an international free agent on July 2, 2017. At the time, Bello was not considered a top prospect, as evidenced by his modest signing bonus of $28,000.
In fact, Bello endured some struggles early on, posting a 5.43 ERA in 2019, his first full season in Low-A. At the time, the idea of a six-year contract with a club option seemed distant.
“At that point, I was just thinking about making the team and trying to become a major league player,” Bello said. “But obviously things have changed and I’m still working hard to keep improving and be the best I can be.”
For Bello, the situation changed in 2022, when he posted a 1.69 ERA in seven starts at Double-A Portland and then went 6-2 in 11 outings at Triple-A Worcester.
With their rotation depleted by injuries, the Red Sox called up Bello for his major league debut earlier than expected in July of that 2022 season, and he needed time to adjust, going 2-8 with a 4.71 ERA.
In 2023, Bello’s first full season in the majors, he pitched like an ace at times, making 28 starts and going 12-11 with a 4.24 ERA.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Thursday morning that Bello is competing with Nick Pivetta to be the Opening Day starter. If Bello doesn’t get the season opener in Seattle on March 28, he will start the next day.
“Of course I’m happy to be in that conversation,” Bello said. “Obviously, I’ve been working really hard, I came to camp earlier this spring because that’s one of my goals every year. And if that happens, I will be ready to receive the ball that day.”
“He’s in a great situation,” Cora said. “He’s got a lot of fans in that clubhouse, obviously around Red Sox Nation, and hopefully before the first pitch on Saturday, we can get this (contract extension) done and we can celebrate.”
In his preparation for the start of the season, Bello threw three innings and 50 pitches to minor leaguers in a back field. That seemed appropriate on a day when his contract was about to end, since not long ago Bello was one of those prospects who spent his entire spring training on those types of fields.
“When you look back, it’s always nice to reflect on the journey you’ve had to take here,” Bello said. “For example, today I had the opportunity to face some young people and I have the opportunity to give my opinion and also learn from them. So yeah, it’s really nice.”
Bello has continued to evolve with his power sinker and turned his changeup and four-seamer into important weapons. This season, Bello is incorporating a new grip on his slider that Hall of Famer Pedro Martínez helped him master this offseason.
As Bello attempts to become one of Boston’s best homegrown starters in the last decade, he has continually had help from Martinez.
“He basically said, ‘Just don’t be afraid,’” Bello said. “’Just throw what you’re going to throw with conviction.’”
Expect Bello to display that conviction in the years to come while wearing a Boston uniform.