Bradfo reacts to the Ceddanne Rafaela extension
First there was now Brayan Bello. Now there will be Ceddanne Rafaela.
According to a major league source, Rafaela has agreed to a contract extension after spending 47 days in the big leagues. According to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, the deal is worth $50 million over eight years, making Rafaela eligible for free agency after the 2031 season. (MassLive's Chris Cotillo was first with news of the agreement.)
Rafaela's deal will fall well short of something in the lines of Arizona outfielder Corbin Carroll, who agreed to an eight-year, $111 million deal with a club option after 38 days of service time. But it would eclipse the extension given to Tampa Bay's Brandon Lowe. Lowe signed a six-year, $25 million contract with two club options after 58 days of service time.
Rafaela becomes the second youngster locked up by chief baseball officer Craig Breslow over the last month, with Brayan Bello signing a six-year, $55 million contract last month.
The 23-year-old Rafaela has long been highly-regarded for his defense throughout a professional career that began with him signing for a $10,000 bonus in 2017. He has since developed improved plate discipline and power, both of which have surfaced at times throughout the his 10 games this season.
Rafaela will head into Tuesday's Fenway Park opener as the team's starting centerfielder, with the possibility of integrating him at both second base and shortstop. He is coming off the team's West Coast swing having hit .233 with a .688 OPS.
In other Red Sox news, the team has optioned Bobby Dalbec to Triple-A Worcester with the intention of promoting utiltyman Romy Gonzalez (who is on the club's 40-man roster).
Gonzalez can play multiple infield and outfield positions, having been part of a regular rotation for the White Sox last season before a shoulder injury derailed his season. With Worcester this season, he was hitting .321 with a 1.196 OPS, including three home runs.