Young right-hander Brayan Bello and the Boston Red Sox have agreed to a $55 million, six-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
Bello’s agreement includes a $21 million team option for 2030 with a $1 million buyout that if exercised would make the agreement worth $75 million over seven seasons, the person said.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because the deal had not been announced.
His agreement was first reported by MLB.com.
Bello turns 25 in May and was signed by the Red Sox from the Dominican Republic in 2017 for $28,000.
He would have been eligible for arbitration after the 2025 season and for free agency following the 2028 season. He had a $729,500 salary last year and absent the long-term deal likely would have received about $750,000 this season.
He was 12-11 with a 4.24 ERA in 28 starts last year for the last-place Red Sox, averaging 95.5 mph with his four-seam fastball. His fastball velocity was 97.7 mph in 2022, when he went 2-8 with a 4.71 ERA in 11 starts and two relief appearances.
He is part of a projected rotation that includes Nick Pivetta, Kutter Crawford, Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock.
Boston signed free agent Lucas Giolito to a $38.5 million, two-year contract, but the 29-year-old right-hander likely will need Tommy John surgery for the second time.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
