Young pitcher Brayan Bello and the Boston Red Sox struck a deal Thursday, agreeing to a $55 million, six-year contract.
Under the terms, Bello receives a $1 million signing bonus and annual salaries starting at $1 million this year and escalating to $19 million by 2029. The agreement also includes a team option for 2030 worth $21 million, with a $1 million buyout, potentially extending the pact to seven seasons and totaling $75 million.
Bello, who turns 25 in May, hails from the Dominican Republic and was originally signed by the Red Sox in 2017 for $28,000.
Before the long-term deal, Bello was on track for arbitration after the 2025 season and free agency post-2028.
Last season, he earned a salary of $729,500, with an anticipated increase to about $750,000 this year.
In the 2023 season, Bello registered a record of 12-11 with a 4.24 ERA across 28 starts for the Red Sox, showcasing a fastball averaging 95.5 mph. This marked a slight dip from his 2022 performance, where his fastball velocity peaked at 97.7 mph, amidst a record of 2-8 and a 4.71 ERA in 11 starts and two relief appearances.
Expected to join a rotation featuring Nick Pivetta, Kutter Crawford, Tanner Houck, and Garrett Whitlock, Bello’s signing comes as the Red Sox navigate potential setbacks, notably with Lucas Giolito’s impending second Tommy John surgery, following his recent $38.5 million, two-year deal.
