Extending Roman Anthony Should Be a Priority for the Red Sox This Offseason

The Boston Red Sox have big plans this offseason and nobody knows exactly what they are. Spending big money or prospect capital on a starting pitcher looks to be a guarantee, as is finding a way to add an impact right-hander to the lineup. Triston Casas also seems to be on the docket this offseason, whether that means the Red Sox will him for starting pitching or extend him (like they should). In my opinion, it's possible that Fenway Sports Group put out these rumors as a bargaining ploy, hoping to entice Casas to find a middle ground at the negotiating table, but there's no way to know. The team could have avoided this by extending him before he played a major-league game and had the chance to be one of the best hitters in baseball. That brings us to Roman Anthony, the team's (and maybe the sport's) top prospect. Craig Breslow should sign Roman Anthony to a long-term contract and have him penciled into the lineup on Opening Day. After watching this year’s playoffs, two things are clear: rookies are capable of performing in the playoffs at the highest stage, and you must spend in order to win.

Before the season started, the Milwaukee Brewers signed Jackson Chourio to an eight-year, $82-million contract before he'd ever played a game in the major leagues. Some people called them crazy, and some people pleaded with their teams to do the same with their top prospect. Those in the latter camp proved to be right. Chourio had a spectacular season and proved that he's well worth the contract. In San Diego, rookie Jackson Merrill was even better. Chourio was the higher-rated prospect but after both of their respective rookie seasons, if Merrill were to get an extension today it would likely overshadow Chourio’s. This is exactly what the Red Sox are dealing with right now with Casas, and it might be avoidable with Anthony.

Since the trade of now three-time World Series champion Mookie Betts, the Boston front office has made it abundantly clear that the goal is to build a strong core of young talent, then supplement it with free-agent acquisitions. With the arrival of the team's top prospects imminent, it is time to pay EVERYONE. Casas will certainly be asking for (and hopefully get) a large deal, and Anthony could be the cornerstone of one of the most historic franchises in sports for what might, in a few years, be pennies on the dollar in a few years.

The trend of handing out extensions to young, unproven players has been accelerating, across the league. The Red Sox did it just last year with Brayan Bello and Ceddanne Rafaela. As a highly-rated prospect who received an average annual value in excess of $10 million, Chourio would be more apt comparison to Anthony than Bello or Rafaela. Anthony will no doubt want more than Chourio, but that's a good benchmark for a potential extension.

There's no way to know what either side might have in mind in terms of either years or dollars, but Breslow should be prepared sign Anthony long-term and commit to the plan of developing and keeping the team's major-league talent, then making free-agent splashes to supplement the roster. With all the young talent ready to fight for major league spots, it's time to make definitive, franchise-altering moves. Locking up the number one prospect in baseball should be at the top of the list.