Red Sox follows the steps of Braves with management of his ‘big 3’ of prospects

Boston seeks to repeat the plan launched a few years ago by Atlanta to create a nucleus of young players who take the team towards the next stage.

During a long time, in the professional baseball of Major Leaguesthe great sums of money and large contracts for a long time were extended to those players who, over a sustained number of years, were responsible for maintaining high levels of productivity, either as batters or as pitchers. In flat terms, the great salary was paid to the players as a reward for what was achieved and under the expectation of maintaining their rhythm throughout the duration of the new contract.

This brought with it the appearance of several gigantic contracts, for the different eras, which ended up not giving the expected result, since, over time, the arrival of age, plus the injuries, made it impossible to maintain the rhythm and obtain the same results for which they received their contracts.

Examples of contracts that ended up being fiascos are left over: Barry Zito with San Francisco Giants (8 years, 126 million dollars), Albert Pujols with Los Angeles Angels (10 years, 240 million), Jacoby Ellsbury with New York Yankees (7 years and 153 million dollars) and the list also includes active players such as the case of Angels with Anthony Rendon.

Given this circumstance, the business had to change the root of that, the teams began to bet in another sense what was traditionally doing. Instead of paying the great money to experienced players, organizations began paying prospects and young players large sums of money. The idea is simple: take advantage of the greatest amount of the best years of youth of athletes, bet on the future projection of the players offering large, but friendly contracts for the team’s finances and make sure they have figures that were striking for the public since its inception.

Several teams began paying in that way, there is no doubt that the business represented less money and allowed them to sign the big names that went to free agency, creating a kind of mixed model in which they are paid by projection to each other for what they have already done. However, no one was as successful as Atlanta Braves To execute that plan.

The Braves They created their core for the future by ensuring an eventual winner of the award MVP of the National League in Ronald Acuña Jr. (8 years, 100 million), assured one of their most important prospects, Austin Riley (10 years, 212 million), as well as Ozzie Albies (7 years, 35 million), Michael Harris II (8 years, 72 million), Spencer Stider (6 years, 75 million) Matt Olson (8 years, 168 million), as well as Be Murphy (6 years, 73 million dollars). Some of these contracts have additional equipment options, which would allow them to extend them, which ensures, at least, that Atlanta will have control of all the aforementioned players until at least 2026.

As a result, several teams took the same bet as Atlanta and have assured their prospects and young players, but in 2025, Boston Red Sox apparent that the plan of the Braves to the letter.

The first was to make sure to tie the ace of his rotation for the future, which they achieved by reaching an agreement with Garrett crochet for six years and 170 million. The second, which is part of the plan that they already started executing, keeping their ‘Big 3‘of prospects within the organization.

The first step was achieved: Kristian CampbellProspect number 6 of MLBsigned an extension for eight years and 60 million dollars. Being pending, Roman Anthony (Prospect number 2 of MLB) and Marcelo Mayer (Prospect number 11), to join not only your partner in minor leagues already Crochetbut to the only player left of the 2018 champion team, Rafael Deverswho is the main figure of the set today.

The curious thing about the plan that follows Bostonis that as Atlanta, for several years, the whole stopped spending money significantly, which caused the possible exits of Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaertstwo of the great stars of the last decade for the Red Sox. Sticking to the plan perfected by Alex Anthopoulosmanager of the Bravesplace Boston in an enviable position, which, in case of being able to complete, would ensure the future of the squad.

At the end of the day, the markets dictate where the money is directed, but it is the teams that define the strategies of what to do with this, as well as with the players. Others may have opted before for young talent, but none at the Atlanta level, or what Boston seeks at this time.