The start of the Boston Red Sox's 2025 season has been up and down, culminating in a 4-4 record through the first eight games. Although there hasn't been much to celebrate on the diamond so far, the Red Sox have given fans a couple of huge announcements to cheer about, signing left-handed ace Garrett Crochet and stud second baseman Kristian Campbell to long-term extensions since the campaign began.
As excited as Red Sox fans are to see the duo extended, both deals caught some of the fanbase by surprise. After all, Crochet joined the club this offseason, while Campbell only made his MLB debut last week. No one would blame Boston's front office if it needed more time to think things over before putting pen to paper.
While that may be true in some cases, the Red Sox are making it abundantly clear that at least one of their recent extensions was a no-brainer.
Red Sox Didn't Hesitate to Extend Kristian Campbell
On Saturday, the Red Sox held a press conference to officially announce Campbell's eight-year, $60 million contract extension. According to MassLive's Chris Cotillo, Boston Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow used part of the conference to reveal that the club didn't hesitate to invest in a standout individual like the 22-year-old infielder.
"These are investments not just in a set of skills or metrics or batted-ball profiles. These are investments in people, Breslow said, highlighting Campbell's humility as something that stands out. Our coaching staff knows him incredibly well and saw the adjustments he was able to make throughout a season... He’s the type of guy you feel really, really comfortable making a bet on."
For Kristian Campbell, sacrificing potential future value didn't come into play when he made what he called an easy decision to sign a long-term deal now.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) April 5, 2025
"It was just a life-changing opportunity for me and my family. Can’t pass on that."https://t.co/XYyJwWuqQX
Even though he opened the year as one of the Red Sox's top prospects, it wasn't long ago when Campbell's immediate future was unclear. The former 2023 fourth-rounder experienced a fair amount of struggles throughout spring training, leaving the fanbase to wonder if he'd begin the year in the minors.
Campbell ultimately cracked the Red Sox's roster, which was the correct call by manager Alex Cora.
The Chattanooga, TN native has since begun the year by slashing .423/.515/.808 through his first 26 at-bats, cranking out two home runs while adding six walks and a stolen base. Campbell's strong start has him as the clear-cut +175 favorite to win the American League Rookie of the Year award on FanDuel Sportsbook.
Even if his strong start isn't sustainable, Campbell has demonstrated the potential to be something special. If his upward trajectory continues, his $7.5 million average annual value will look like a complete steal.
Campbell's contract will look even better if he can help deliver a championship to Boston this season. The chances of that happening aren't impossible, considering how the Red Sox are currently tied for the ninth-best 2025 World Series odds (+2200) on FanDuel.
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