Red Sox Contract Extensions Coming? Sam Kennedy Explains ‘Priority’

The focus of Red Sox contract extension news has been on Garrett Crochet, but Boston also could get other business done before Opening Day.

Brayan Bello signed his contract extension weeks before Opening Day in 2024, and it didn’t take long into the season for Ceddanne Rafaela to sign his extension. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and the front office set a precedent of locking in young players early, and that trend could continue this season.

“Without getting into specifics, extending our own players is definitely a priority if it all possible,” Sam Kennedy told MassLive’s Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam on the “Fenway Rundown.” “The hallmark of a great Red Sox team in our experience is full of homegrown guys all over the diamond, full of international signees and full of free agents that come in from other places. But we absolutely have to have that core, and so it would be great to get extensions done with the younger players but don’t want to comment or put undue pressure on anybody as the clock is ticking toward Opening Day. Of course, deals could always get done in the season, as well.”

It’s only up to speculation as to which players the Red Sox president referred to. Some potential candidates could be Jarren Duran, Tristan Casas or Tanner Houck, but as Kennedy noted, there will be plenty of time to get those potential deals done.

The Red Sox remain interested in getting a Crochet extension done, and the 25-year-old, who has two years left on his contract, also would like to stay in Boston long term. It will be a wait and see regarding what business gets done before the Red Sox begin the regular season Thursday.