Red Sox sign rookie phenom Roman Anthony to an 8-year extension
The team made the announcement before Wednesday night's game against the Kansas City Royals.
Anthony made his debut this June. He is batting .283 with two homers and 19 RBIs in his 46 games.
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Boston Globe
a minute ago
- Boston Globe
Here's how Roman Anthony, even at just 21 years old, has changed the Red Sox since arriving in the big leagues
The Red Sox had staggered through the early part of the schedule when they decided to call up Anthony on June 9. They owned a 32-35 record, placing them fourth in the AL East. They are 32-17 since, best in the American League. Advertisement That's not solely because of Anthony, of course. There have been numerous, massive changes that have reshaped the roster since then. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Still, there's no question Anthony changed the dynamic of the club. Through 47 games entering Friday night's series opener in San Diego, he's hit .276/.392/.417, exhibiting remarkable plate discipline and patience that teammates suggest has had a ripple effect throughout the lineup. He is just the fifth player in the 21st century who, at 21 or younger, posted an OBP of .390 or better through his first 47 career games, joining Fernando Tatís Jr., Juan Soto, Jason Heyward, and Albert Pujols. Related : Anthony also has impressed with his base running and outfield play, grading as an above-average defender in the corners. Overall, he's produced 1.5 WAR in the calculations of FanGraphs. Yet even that marker of production is inadequate to capture who Anthony is and what he's done. Advertisement 'I think [what Anthony has done] is special. I think it's remarkable,' said Breslow. 'And 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. We can look at his contribution, whether that's WAR or any of those. We could look at our team record. 'But I think that we've talked a lot over the last couple of months about this athletic, dynamic team that we're looking to build, and Roman suits that perfectly.' This isn't the first time the Sox have seen a team elevate its play once Anthony joined it. Raves started pouring in about Anthony as an 18-year-old making his pro debut in the Florida Complex League in 2022, shortly after he'd been drafted in the second round and signed to a $2.5 million bonus. Roman Anthony makes a sliding catch to secure an out against the Rays in his first Major League series. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Even in the FCL, the words 'mature' and 'maturity' were used so often that it was easy to forget Anthony was the youngest player on the team. His reputation only grew across levels, as players and coaches got to appreciate his talent and what mattered to him. Last year, when he was promoted to Triple A Worcester along with Kyle Teel and Marcelo Mayer, the team had a 53-60 record. Down the stretch, as Anthony solidified his case as the top prospect in baseball, the WooSox were 26-11. 'When we had him last year in Worcester, what he did to our team as far as wins and losses from the moment that he came up, we're seeing a copy-paste exactly of what happened when he came up to Worcester,' said Red Sox first base coach José Flores, who was the WooSox' bench coach last year. 'So I'm not surprised at all.'' Advertisement Flores, who was a minor league coordinator with the Cubs from 2013-17, suggested Anthony's impact upon arrival in the big leagues reminded him of Kyle Schwarber's with the Cubs in 2015, when a young team working to establish itself suddenly hit another gear. Anthony is a rookie but is respected as a sage by older teammates. 'You see the quality of at-bats this guy's taking on a daily basis, that's contagious,' said Flores. 'Trevor Story, a guy who's been in the big leagues a long time, seeing this kid, how comfortable he looks in the batter's box, they had conversations, and Trevor may have picked up something that he hadn't been thinking about through the course of the struggles he was having early. Now, all of a sudden, you're seeing a lot more success than struggle.' Related : Anthony's comportment on the field and among his teammates has been jarringly impressive. He's gifted but looks to coaches and teammates for insight on ways he can improve. He does not seek attention but is comfortable with it, and has shown a remarkable ability to handle the media and frame all comments through the prism of team success. He constantly seeks the feedback of veterans, yet already has earned their respect to the point that more experienced teammates turn to him for advice on the field. Advertisement 'I'm not sure I've ever been around a guy who has the type of impact that he has at that age,' said third base coach Kyle Hudson, who recalled his astonishment when Anthony introduced himself in spring training by asking for help to improve his sliding. 'That's the reason why we are where we are right now, and why he is where he is, just because his approach to everybody, and his approach to the game is about winning. That's what it's all about for him. There's not a selfish bone in his body . . . People are drawn to him. People want to talk to him. People want to pick his brain.' After wins, the Red Sox recognize a player of the game, who briefly addresses his teammates. Pitcher Garrett Crochet said he was 'caught off guard' by how mature, poised, and well-spoken Anthony was the first time he received the recognition. 'He's one of the more mature 21-year-olds I think that has ever come through major league baseball,' said Crochet. 'You mix his work ethic with his discipline, and that's kind of what you see on the field. It's been a pro at-bat since Day One. He never seems overwhelmed or overmatched. For me, it's really just the maturity that's the biggest thing.' Teammate Alex Bregman suggested Anthony's at-bats reminded him of Yordan Alvarez when the Astros slugger arrived in the big leagues and instantly became one of the league's best hitters as a 22-year-old in 2019. Pitcher Walker Buehler compared Anthony's presence to that of former Dodgers teammates Cody Bellinger and Corey Seager, both of whom won Rookie of the Year honors and eventually emerged as the MVP (Bellinger) or runner-up (Seager). Advertisement Yet there's also the dimension of how Anthony carries himself ― how he manages to display a 'Jeter gene' in how he fields every question, whether reframing all personal successes by discussing the team or taking the time to appreciate teammates, as when he opened his discussion of a recent back injury by praising Wilyer Abreu's fill-in. 'He wants to win,' said manager Alex Cora. 'He's shown it in the interviews [and] the way he goes about his business.' Indeed, the decision by Anthony to sign underscored and amplified that commitment. 'The main goal is just show up every day and be the best version of myself and get better each and every day and try to help this team win,' Anthony said. 'And obviously, now that this [deal] is done, it's even more [of] a reason to just go out and be the best version of myself and win baseball games.' A fan holds up a custom Roman Anthony sign after the outfielder signed his eight-year contract extension. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Alex Speier can be reached at
New York Times
3 minutes ago
- New York Times
Friday's NFL preseason slate, featuring Bryce Young and Mike Vrabel. Here's how to watch, odds
NFL preseason transpires in the background of a summer Friday night, though ball-is-lifers and football nerds have reason to watch. The national TV game marks Shedeur Sanders' first professional start, as the Cleveland Browns tangle with the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte. Regionally, Dan Campbell's kneecap-gnawing Detroit Lions visit the Atlanta Falcons, while the Washington Commanders and New England Patriots have an exhibition up in Foxborough. Here's what we're getting into: Out-of-market fans can stream regional preseason games with an NFL+ subscription. Campbell's crew dropped the season-opening scrimmage 34-7 at the annual Hall of Fame Game. Raheem Morris told reporters that his rookie class will be starting, and we won't be seeing Michael Penix Jr. or Kirk Cousins (still here!). In-market fans will get this broadcast over the air on Fox 2 Detroit and Fox 5 Atlanta, respectively. The full Michigan coverage map can be found here. This game is also streaming on which this correspondent assumed was just a video loop of Jahmyr Gibbs soul-shatterers. Advertisement Best player to wear both jerseys (by Approximate Value): Bill Fralic (63 AV with Atlanta, 8 with Detroit) 'If Kyle Allen continues to play like he did in the preseason opener, he won't have a spot on this team. He made a poor throw on a pass intended for Tom Kennedy that was picked off and nearly returned for a touchdown, and made a poor decision throwing into double coverage on an end-zone shot to Isaac TeSlaa — also intercepted. I expected more from Allen, given how well he's performed in practice. He's got time to make up for it, though. The same goes for Hooker. He's in line to get the start vs. the Falcons this week and I'd expect a much more efficient outing. It was hard to evaluate him with third-stringers blocking and running routes for him.' — Colton Pouncy 'The biggest story through the first six practices of Atlanta Falcons training camp has been the rookie pass rushers, but it's for the opposite reason almost everyone expected. While No. 15 pick Jalon Walker, considered one of the first round's safest bets, has been sidelined by a hamstring injury, No. 26 pick James Pearce Jr., a risky pick on multiple levels, has been the talk of the practice field.' — Josh Kendall The NFL Network matchup is headlined by Shedeur Sanders, who starts against the Panthers for his first NFL sample. Sanders' plummet through the 2025 draft was a hot topic for the football public, and his presence lends some intrigue to an otherwise meaningless scrimmage. Of note, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said that Tyler Huntley is the only other quarterback active for this game; Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel have been dealing with hamstring issues, and Joe Flacco is a quadragenarian. Dave Canales said that his first-stringers would take a few series Friday. That means playing time for Bryce Young, the mystery box under center who came on strong at last season's end. Time to lock in with No. 8 pick Tetairoa McMillan. In-market fans without access to NFL Network will still get the game over the air (WEWS News 5 in Cleveland, Carolina's listings here). Best player to wear both jerseys (by Approximate Value): Jake Delhomme (61 AV with Carolina, 2 with Cleveland) 'I believe the Monday, July 27, practice was a guideline for how Stefanski will handle the preseason opener. On that day, the usual starters went through early drills before the top players at most positions essentially got the rest of the day off. I think the Browns will sit their top, say, 18 to 25 players and probably let the rookie quarterbacks play in the actual preseason game.' — Zac Jackson Advertisement 'During training camp last year, Young was learning his second offense and working with his third play caller since the Panthers drafted him No. 1 in the spring of 2023. It didn't help that his only reps in a preseason game came on the opening drive at Buffalo during the third exhibition … Fast forward to this summer, when Young has demonstrated a command of and comfort level in Canales' system. That's not to say he's been on-point every practice: Nickel Chau Smith-Wade baited him into an end-zone interception last week. But Canales likes the way Young is running the offense, hitting most of his throws and making off-platform throws — his signature at Alabama and over the second half of last season.' — Joseph Person These two put together a most spirited of joint practices. Why was former Patriots linebacker-turned-coach Mike Vrabel bleeding? It's August, man! Suspend your disbelief to learn that Marshon Lattimore was indeed skirmishin'. At that Wednesday practice, Vrabel said healthy players should expect to play on Friday. Washington fans are wholly unconcerned with what happens here, so long as everyone avoids serious injury. The Terry McLaurin hold-in is also bubbling over. In-market fans will get this broadcast over the air on WUSA (D.C.) and WBZ (Boston). Best player to wear both jerseys (by Approximate Value): Bob Dee (76 AV with New England, 0 with Washington in 22 games) 'With Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown both out, the Commanders' lack of receiving depth has been a glaring issue in recent practices, especially so on Wednesday. Deebo Samuel, a versatile playmaker who can be a chess piece for offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, doesn't (and shouldn't) take on the workload expected of a leading wideout or even a No. 2. And so far, none of the Commanders' 10 other receivers has emerged as consistent playmakers or a reliable pass catcher capable of taking on more. Advertisement Ja'Corey Brooks made an impressive one-handed catch early in practice, but the bulk of Daniels' completions were to Samuel, running back Austin Ekeler and tight end Zach Ertz.' — Nicki Jhabvala 'All eyes are on [Will Campbell] every practice, which is a tough spot for a rookie. So far, he's been about what you'd expect from a rookie. He has some strong moments, particularly in the running game. But there have been struggles in the passing game. He's been beaten for a sack in just about every practice, which isn't great considering he's usually on the field each practice for only 15 or so passing plays in full-team drills. He tends to get beaten to the inside after oversetting, and it probably doesn't help that the Pats don't yet know who their left guard is next to him. Still, extrapolate those numbers, and that's allowing two sacks each NFL game if you throw the ball 30 times. Not great. It's important to remember that Campbell is just 21 years old. The long-term view remains very bright. He was the fourth overall pick for a reason. A couple of weeks of practice shouldn't change the outlook. On the other hand, there have been enough struggles in pass protection that it's probably unwise to expect him to be a top-20 left tackle this season — which, again, is fine. He's a rookie. There will be ups and downs this season, and as long as he progresses going into next season, everything remains on track.' — Chad Graff Betting/odds, ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo of Bryce Young: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
New York Times
3 minutes ago
- New York Times
Fantasy football 2025 All-Undervalued team featuring Dak Prescott, Chris Olave, Mike Evans
It's not likely Warren Buffett was talking about fantasy football when he said, 'Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.' He's too busy having all the cheese to concern himself with such frivolities. But what Buffett said holds as much truth in our hobby as when buying North Dakota. It's not the price you pay for a player. It's what you get for that price. Advertisement In the case of North Dakota, it's a lot of barley, wheat, oats, sugarbeets and sunflower seeds. Oh, and the Bismarck Bucks of the Indoor Football League. Mustn't forget them. This could be their year, you know. In fantasy football, value is the key to success. Build a roster of undervalued players whose production in 2025 surpasses their price tag, and odds are it will be a good year. Conversely, fill a roster with players who fail to live up to their draft slot, and by the end of November, your chances of making a deep playoff run will be as dead as a Thanksgiving turkey. There are many reasons why a player could be undervalued. They could be coming off an injury, have (GASP!) 30-plus candles on their birthday cake or play for a team expected to struggle. Whatever the reason, undervalued players are waiting to lead fantasy managers to glory every year. And this season, the following players are an All-Star squad of fantasy bargains. ADPs via FantasyPros Prescott's ADP is evidence that fantasy drafters love a good grudge. After missing half of last season with a hamstring injury, Prescott is being drafted outside the top 12 quarterbacks even though in 2023 he completed almost 70% of his passes, was third in the NFL with 4,516 passing yards and led the league with 36 touchdown passes. Those numbers landed Prescott third among quarterbacks in fantasy points. The addition of wide receiver George Pickens and the return of a healthy Jake Ferguson at tight end (and that CeeDee Lamb guy — hear he's good) gives Prescott a solid set of pass-catchers. And given the questions swirling around the Cowboys' ground game, Dallas could easily be one of the NFL's more pass-heavy teams this season. Brown's second-half surge last year propelled more than a few fantasy teams to championships. Brown finished his second professional season with 1,350 total yards and 11 scores — good enough for an RB10 PPR finish. From Week 8 on, he had double-digit PPR points in every game he played and ranked sixth at his position in fantasy points. Advertisement The Bengals have made it clear that Brown is the team's unquestioned lead back, with words and actions — Cincy recently released veteran running back Zack Moss. Playing for a loaded offense that prevents opponents from stacking the box as a three-down workhorse from the jump, Brown could flirt with the top-five at his position in 2025. On some level, it's understandable why fantasy managers have concerns about Conner. He's a 30-year-old running back with an injury history. As a matter of fact, the next season Conner plays every game will be his first, although in his defense, the ninth-year veteran played a career-high 16 games a year ago. Conner had arguably the best season of his career in 2024 — over 1,500 total yards, 4.6 yards per carry and an RB11 finish in PPR fantasy points. The season before that, Conner averaged 5.0 yards a pop and was RB13 in PPR points per game. Trey Benson isn't a serious threat to the veteran's three-down role — Conner is being drafted a lot closer to his floor than his ceiling. Several rituals signify the end of summer — Labor Day barbecues, the closing of public pools, children returning to school, and, for reasons that make about as much sense as the Star Wars prequels, fading Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans in drafts. Yes, Evans has played 11 years in the NFL. But in every one of those seasons, the 31-year-old has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards. Evans caught 11 touchdown passes a season ago — his fourth season in the past five years with double-digit scores. He has also posted four top-12 PPR finishes over that span. Other than that? Total bum. It's not especially easy to get excited about the Titans offense. Even their quarterback, rookie Cam Ward (the first overall pick in last April's draft), admits the team has work to do, telling reporters from training camp, 'I just think we're very mid right now.' Advertisement It's an assessment that doesn't exactly inspire fantasy enthusiasm. But Ridley was WR27 last year catching wormburners from Will, 'The Mayo Man' Levis, who dreams to one day be 'mid.' Ridley topped 1,000 receiving yards for the second straight season in 2024 despite a career-low catch percentage of just 53.3. The last time that percentage was above 60, Ridley tied for fourth in the league with 1,374 receiving yards and was fifth in PPR points at the position. Not long ago, Olave was considered a rising young star at wide receiver instead of a fringe fantasy starter. The former Ohio State star topped 1,000 receiving yards in his first two seasons and had a fantasy ADP inside the top-12 receivers a year ago. But after a concussion-marred mess of a 2024, it's downtown 'meh' for Olave's fantasy prospects in the eyes of many this season. The Saints will probably be stinky poo (it's a technical term), and the team's quarterback situation may be the worst in the league. But someone's gotta catch passes for a New Orleans team that figures to be playing from behind a lot in 2025, and Saints head coach Kellen Moore's offense has produced more than a few big years from said offense's top wideout. Engram is another player on the All-Undervalued team who missed significant time in 2024. Hamstring and shoulder injuries limited the 30-year-old to nine games, 365 receiving yards and just one score. But the season before, Engram had more catches than every player in the AFC not named Tyreek Hill and led the conference in fantasy points among tight ends. The Broncos are paying Engram a substantial amount of money this year to fill the 'Joker' role in Sean Payton's offense, which means he'll be lining up all over the formation. It's the role Jimmy Graham played for Payton with the Saints, and as the New York Post's Howard Bender wrote, over a four-year span from 2011-2014, Graham averaged 138 targets, 89 receptions, 1,099 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. Is that good? It sounds good. Advertisement After an outstanding 2021 season in which he surpassed 1,700 total yards, scored 14 total touchdowns and finished third in PPR points among wide receivers, Samuel was a bona fide fantasy stud. Fast forward a few years, and after failing to hit 700 receiving yards for the second time in three seasons in 2024, it's off to downtown Dudsville for the 29-year-old in 2025. Or is it? As recently as 2023, Samuel eclipsed 1,100 total yards, scored 12 touchdowns and was a top-15 fantasy option at his position. If the Commanders were as sure as fantasy managers that Samuel was washed, they wouldn't have traded for him. And with the Terry McLaurin contract saga dragging into August and Washington's sights set squarely on Samuel's old stomping grounds (in, say, February), offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury could be all the more motivated to scheme him touches. Gary Davenport is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow Gary on X at @IDPGodfather. (Photo of Mike Evans: Julio Aguilar / Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
