Brayan Bello, who emerged as a key player for the Boston Red Sox last season, is reportedly close to signing an extension that would keep him with the team beyond 2028. According to The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier, the Red Sox are in deep discussions with the 24-year-old right-handed pitcher about a long-term contract.
Bello is a strong candidate to start on Opening Day for the Red Sox, especially with Lucas Giolito, another contender for the role, sidelined due to an elbow injury. While Bello’s impact in the upcoming season is crucial, the potential for his future contributions likely motivated the contract talks.
The Red Sox have struggled to develop homegrown starting pitchers in recent years, making Bello’s emergence particularly significant. In 2023, Bello posted a 12-11 record with a 4.24 ERA, 132 strikeouts, and a 3.1 WAR in 28 starts. His performance was especially notable as Chris Sale dealt with injury issues.
Although Bello showed promise in 2023, his performance dipped towards the end of the season as the Red Sox’s playoff hopes faded. Despite this, Bello has demonstrated enough potential to justify the hype surrounding him as a top prospect in the Red Sox’s farm system.
