What George Lombard Jr. might find at the MLB Futures Game — according to the Yankees who've been there
But the 20-year-old will get a taste of the big leagues this weekend, one that seven current Yankees got when they were in his shoes, by playing in the Futures Game on Saturday night at Truist Park in Atlanta.
'When you get selected to the Futures Game, I think it's a step closer, because you realize how it is,' said Jasson Domínguez, who played in the 2021 and 2022 games before making his big league debut in 2023. 'It was a great experience. You get to meet a lot of people, a lot of guys. You see how they go about things and how different everybody does [their] thing.'
Domínguez started the 2022 Futures Game in center field at Dodger Stadium and homered off of current Red Sox Triple-A lefty Kyle Harrison (the key piece of the Rafael Devers trade). He was joined by current teammate Anthony Volpe and then-Yankees prospect Ken Waldichuk, who picked up the save and then was traded two weeks later to the Athletics for Frankie Montas.
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New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
Mindful of painful history, Red Sox make Roman Anthony the one who didn't get away
BOSTON – Roman Anthony hurried through an otherwise empty clubhouse. A custom suit hung in his locker. This wasn't a typical Wednesday for a franchise that's become well aware of the cost that comes with letting homegrown stars get away. Ninety minutes before first pitch – when Anthony is usually just finishing up batting practice – he sat in that navy blue suit between Red Sox CEO Sam Kennedy and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, the latest recipient of a long-term contract extension in Boston. Anthony signed an eight-year, $130 million deal, the largest for any player on the team with fewer than 150 at-bats. Laden with escalators, a league source said, the deal can reach a total value of $230.2 million. Advertisement 'When the offer came through, it was something that I wanted to move quick on,' Anthony said with teammates, coaches, family, front office members and ownership, including team owner John Henry, packed into the press conference room. 'There was no doubt that this is where I wanted to play baseball for a long time.' The Red Sox were cognizant of their botched negotiations with homegrown players. Not signing Mookie Betts to a long-term deal is something that will hang over the club for years to come. When the opportunity presented itself to secure Anthony at an unusual time in the season, they made it a priority. 'In the past, when we haven't signed homegrown players, it's hurt,' Kennedy said. 'We haven't found a way to a deal. So thanks to the Bres for being so aggressive (on Anthony).' Anthony, 21, has the potential to be the next homegrown franchise cornerstone. He will earn $2 million next season and $29 million in his final year of the deal, with a $30 million team option in 2034, according to a source. He'll earn an extra $1 million this season if he finishes first or second in Rookie of the Year voting. The deal includes escalators for top-10 finishes in MVP voting, including $2 million if he wins. He'll earn an extra $200,000 for any year he's named an All-Star. Anthony would have become a free agent after 2031; now he's secured through at least 2033 and potentially 2034. The Red Sox were the first to reach out to Anthony's camp shortly after the trade deadline, a league source noted. During a quiet period days after the trade deadline, Breslow saw a window to re-engage and jumped at it. Anthony's camp knew his value. The top prospect in baseball has hardly struggled at all since his debut on June 9. His camp knew Rookie of the Year was in play and that he held future All-Star and MVP potential. While the Red Sox had signed Kristian Campbell for six years, $60 million earlier this season and Ceddanne Rafaela for eight years, $50 million last year, Anthony's agents were adamant about a much larger deal. Advertisement Initial contract talks in spring training were exploratory, according to a source, and did not come close to any real negotiations. This second round of talks became serious quickly and Anthony expressed a desire to remain in Boston. 'Back in the spring, I hadn't had any experience playing here yet,' Anthony said. 'I didn't really know what to expect yet. It was just more wanting to be here and getting a feel for the everyday lifestyle here…when I got to experience it, even being just 150 at-bats in, I can tell this is where I want to be. There's no doubt.' In roughly 20 months leading the Red Sox, Breslow has made a priority of securing several players to long-term deals including Rafaela and Brayan Bello last season and Garrett Crochet and Campbell this year. But all of those deals came in spring training or right at the start of the season. Two months after trading Rafael Devers, freeing up $254 million in salary, the Red Sox reinvested some of that money in Anthony. Though Breslow said the moves were 'largely independent,' the signing came on the heels of a trade deadline in which the club didn't take on significant salary. 'I guess the beauty of the trade deadline is that it is a true, rigid deadline,' Breslow said. 'Once it passes, we can comfortably shift our priorities to other things. We wanted to kind of strike up these conversations immediately.' Breslow described a number of 'spirited and passionate' conversations he and the front office had with Anthony's group about the player's potential future earnings, particularly in regards to his current Rookie of the Year status. If Anthony won the award before signing the deal, he would have gained an extra year of service time, allowing him to reach free agency sooner. The Red Sox needed to add a similar provision to the deal. Advertisement 'I think it clearly didn't become this prohibitive element or factor, but it was something that both sides needed to get comfortable with in terms of how we were going to address it,' Breslow said. 'It's real. We can't ignore it. But at the same time, the overriding overarching themes here, where Roman wants to be a Red Sox deep into the future, and we want Roman to be a Red Sox deep into the future.' One close comparison that was likely used in negotiations is Arizona's Corbin Carroll. Carroll signed an eight-year, $111 million deal ahead of the 2023 season, before he went on to win NL Rookie of the Year. Carroll had compiled 1.4 fWAR in 32 games at the time he signed the deal; Anthony had a 1.6 fWAR in 46 games at time of his deal. Less than two months into his major-league career, Anthony hasn't felt overwhelmed. He isn't surprised with how he's performed, carrying a quiet confidence that's neither boastful nor cocky. He knows how good he is; the escalators give him a chance to prove it. 'For me, it was a deal that was obviously more than enough for me and for my family and a place that I want to be,' he said. 'Those escalators just give me a chance to continue to grind every day and help this team win and be the best version of myself that I can be each and every day.' Breslow had high praise for Anthony's impact in a short amount of time on one of the more exciting Red Sox teams in the past few years. 'I think it's special. I think it's remarkable,' he said of Anthony's impact on the team. 'I'm not sure that there's a metric that we should look at uniquely and believe that it perfectly captures the impact that he's had. 'If you look at the success that the team has enjoyed, that kind of lines up almost perfectly with his debut, then you start to see a clearer picture of the impact that he's had.' Now Anthony has a chance to impact the club for the better part of the next decade. (Top photo of Roman Anthony: Brian Fluharty / Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
FSG completes $130M deal but not the Alexander Isak transfer Liverpool fans want
Fenway Sports Group has put pen to paper on a new $130M deal — though not the one that many Liverpool fans might've wanted. In recent days, droves of Reds supporters have called on the club to sign Alexander Isak. The Newcastle United star has expressed interest in coming to Anfield, though the Magpies shot down Liverpool's initial bid of $146 million while valuing the forward closer to $200 million. As rumors continue to swirl surrounding a potential union between Liverpool and Isak, owners Fenway Sports Group inked another big-name player to a lucrative contract at their Major League Baseball franchise. On Wednesday, the Boston Red Sox signed outfielder Roman Anthony to an eight-year, $130 million contract extension that features a $30 million club option in 2034. Escalators pertaining to accolades including Rookie of the Year, MVP and All-Star selections could raise the total value up to $230 million. READ MORE: Darwin Nunez agreement could spark transfer merry-go-round as Man Utd makes $98M offer READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Isak misses training, Barcola move 'considered', Nunez exit looms Entering play Wednesday, Anthony was slashing .283/.400/.428 with 2 home runs, 19 RBIs and 26 walks over 46 games since being called up to the majors on June 9. Heading into the season, the 21-year-old was widely regarded as the top prospect in all of baseball — and has thus far lived up to the billing. 'First of all, I want to say a special thanks to the Henry's — Mike, Tom, Sam, Brez, the whole entire front office, coaching staff, my teammates who are here today,' Anthony told reporters during a press conference formally announcing his extension. 'I can thank so many people, my family who are here today, my agents, and just everyone along my life who has helped me get to where I am today. There's a long list of people I could thank and a lot of people who aren't here right now. 'As we know, in this game it takes a team, and it took a team to get this done. I couldn't think of a better city to play in for the next eight to nine years of my life, and I'm super excited. 'I want to thank all the fans who show up every day and continue to support us regardless of the outcome,' he continued. 'It's truly just a special place to play and a special place to show up every single day. 'So I couldn't be more excited for this and couldn't be more thankful for everyone in this room and everyone who's helped me get here today.' Given the fact that both sides were interested in swiftly getting a deal done, Anthony asserted that the negotiation process went off with no hitches. 'This process was quick,' he said. 'This is a place that I want to be. There was no doubt about it. I came up through this org with so many of these people in this room and people who aren't in this room who helped me get here. 'So when the offer came through, it was something that I wanted to move quick on. And there was no doubt that this is where I wanted to play baseball for a long time.'
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Royals end Boston's 7-game win streak as Jonathan India hits 3-run homer in 7-3 victory
BOSTON (AP) — Jonathan India hit a three-run homer and Michael Wacha scattered five hits over six innings to help the Kansas City Royals beat the Red Sox 7-3 on Wednesday night, ending Boston's seven-game winning streak. Wacha (6-9) allowed two runs while walking none and striking out three to earn his second consecutive victory and help the Royals avoid the three-game sweep. Boston led 2-0 after one inning but Kansas City took the lead in the fourth on Kyle Isbel's two-run single. India made it 6-2 in the seventh. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony was hitless in four at-bats just hours after signing a contract extension that will pay him at least $130 million through 2033. In the fifth inning, he hit a long fly ball that went 394 feet before right fielder Randal Grichuk caught it at the wall. Key moment The Royals had runners on first and second with one out in the sixth when pinch-hitter Randal Grichuk hit a ball to deep center field. Jarren Duran ran it down and caught it, threw it in and second baseman Ceddanne Rafaela took the relay and fired it to first to try to catch John Rave before he got back to the bag. The problem: No one was covering first. The runners advanced to second and third, but were stranded there. Key stat Boston starter Dustin May (6-8) made his Red Sox debut after being acquired at the trade deadline. He lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four. Up next The Royals are off on Thursday before a three-game series in Minnesota. Seth Lugo (8-5) will face Joe Ryan (10-5) in the opener. The Red Sox are off on Thursday before beginning a three-game series with the Padres in San Diego. The rotation will be Walker Buehler (6-6), Lucas Giolito (8-2) and Brayan Bello (8-5). ___ AP MLB: Jimmy Golen, The Associated Press
