Brayan Bello and the Boston Red Sox appear to be mutually interested in working together for the long haul.
Bello, a 2017 international free-agent signing, is coming off his first full season in Major League Baseball. The 24-year-old dealt with the standard growing pains that come with being a rookie starter, but he still managed to impress by leading the club with 12 wins in 2023.
The Dominican Republic native is under team control for a while — Bello isn’t arbitration-eligible until after next season — but going ahead of schedule and ironing out an extension could benefit both sides. Asked Wednesday morning if he was close to a new deal with the Red Sox, the right-hander responded “mas o menos,” per MassLive’s Chris Cotillo, which translates to “more or less” or “maybe.”
Bello also revealed his representatives spoke with Red Sox executives “in the last few weeks.”
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Has Bello already proven he’s a bonafide front-end starter? No. But his high ceiling of potential and commitment to his craft make him an obvious extension candidate who could prove to be a steal if Boston puts pen to paper sooner rather than later.
In the meantime, Bello will look to put together a great spring training with an eye toward potentially earning the Opening Day nod from manager Alex Cora.
Featured image via Kevin Sousa/USA TODAY Sports Images
