What Marcelo Mayer said of his own contract talks with Red Sox

Marcelo Mayer could be roommates with Crimson Sox teammate Roman Anthony, however the younger infielder didn’t have any inside info earlier than Anthony signed an eight-year extension with Boston on Wednesday.

“I used to be watching Narcos on the sofa this morning consuming a bagel and my buddy texted me about it and I opened Twitter and that’s all I noticed,” Mayer told the Boston Herald’s Mac Cerullo on Wednesday. “I gave him a textual content, informed him how happy with him I used to be and noticed him on the area and gave him a giant hug. Tremendous pleased for him and his household.”

Anthony formally crossed the t’s and dotted the i’s on a contract that can preserve the 21-year-old outfielder in Boston by means of the 2034 season, as long as the Crimson Sox decide up the membership choice on the ultimate 12 months of the deal. 

The contract — which features $130 million in guaranteed salary but could escalate as high as $230 million if Anthony hits several incentives — stands as the newest transfer by Craig Breslow to lock up Boston’s core for the lengthy haul.

Past Anthony, the Crimson Sox have additionally doled out long-term offers in recent times to retain different gamers aged 25 or beneath on the time of their respective signings — together with Garrett Crochet (six years, $170 million), Brayan Bello (six years, $55 million), Ceddanne Rafaela (eight years, $50 million), and Kristian Campbell (eight years, $60 million). 

With Anthony and Campbell each signed to hefty offers, it stays to be seen when the ultimate member of the “Massive Three” prospect grouping in Mayer additionally indicators a brand new contract.

Talking Wednesday, Mayer mentioned that the Crimson Sox haven’t began up talks on a brand new deal. 

“No, probably not. I’m probably not targeted on that proper now,” Mayer told MassLive’s Chris Cotillo about contract talks. ““I’ve acquired loads on my plate proper now making an attempt to get again on the sphere with my wrist and stuff.”

Even with Mayer’s potential as a smooth-fielding shortstop with robust hit instruments, the Crimson Sox doubtless need to see the 22-year-old infielder quiet a few of the considerations relating to accidents earlier than committing to him with a prolonged contract.

Mayer — who’s batting .228 with eight doubles, 4 dwelling runs, and 10 RBI over 44 video games this season — is coping with a wrist sprain that has put his 2025 season in jeopardy.

Regardless of his standing as a blue-chip prospect, Mayer has commonly been sidelined attributable to illnesses throughout his tenure within the minor leagues. He missed the tip of the 2023 marketing campaign in Portland attributable to shoulder ache whereas later getting shut down in 2024 with Worcester attributable to a again pressure. 

Season-ending surgical procedure stays on the desk for Mayer to appropriate his wrist damage, though he and the staff are ready to see how he responds to an anti-inflammatory injection in his wrist earlier than deciding on the following steps. 

“It feels actually good. Taking it day-to-day, making an attempt to get higher,” Mayer informed Cotillo. “There’s no limitations. It actually simply will depend on how my wrist is doing.”

Past returning for the stretch run and serving to Boston clinch its first playoff berth since 2021, Mayer is hoping to develop alongside Anthony as a lineup common over the approaching years.

“Breslow known as us as much as Double-A on the identical time and all of us clicked. All of us had the identical objectives,” Mayer informed Cotillo. “All of us need to get higher each single day. If you’re round guys like that, you develop into nearer with them.

“We’ve got enjoyable. [Anthony] is my roommate. I feel that claims sufficient. We had the prospect to lastly not be roommates. We selected to dwell collectively once more. That’s like a brother to me. We’ve created a very good friendship outdoors of baseball and I’m tremendous pleased for him.”

 

Conor Ryan is a workers author protecting the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Crimson Sox for Boston.com, a job he has held since 2023.