Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony had an impressive debut but failed to win AL Most Valuable Player or finish top-2 in Rookie of the Year voting. That typically wouldn’t be newsworthy for a player with only 112 days of service but it immediately adjusts the maximum value of the pre-arbitration extension he signed in August.

Anthony was less than two months into his major league career when he signed a rookie record 8 year, $130 million guarantee, or 9 years, $160 million if Boston exercises a 2034 Club option. Additional awards escalators give the deal a reported max value of $230 million, but that ceiling was always improbable considering it required an almost impossible parlay:

1.  Top-2 finish in 2025 AL Rookie of the Year voting (results below)
2.  9 consecutive Most Valuable Player awards (2025 through 2033)
3.  8 consecutive All-Star Game appearances (2026 through 2033)
4.  Boston exercises $51.6 million Club option in 2034

Only ten players in MLB history have won three or more MVP awards. Barry Bonds holds the record with seven, but those came over a 15-year span and only three were in the first half of his career.

What is the new maximum value?  9 years, $206 million

Rookie of the Year and MVP results removed potential escalators totaling $24 million:


Updated maximum escalators and salaries for each eligible season:


How much could Roman Anthony realistically earn?

Using recent examples to model the salary escalation structure:
Francisco Lindor - 8 years, $141.15M or 9 years, $180.7M (2015-2023)
Jose Ramirez - 8 years, $145.55M or 9 years, $187.3M (2015-2023)
Mookie Betts - 8 years, $151.75M or 9 years, $195.9M (2015-2023)
Mike Trout - 8 years, $160.85M or 9 years, $208.75M (2012-2020)

 

*Anthony remains pre-arbitration bonus pool eligible through 2028 and would add another $2.5 million if he wins MVP in any of those seasons.

2026 RoY Voting Results (DraftKings odds to win RoY at time of extension)
1st:  Nick Kurtz - 210 points (-10000)
2nd:  Jacob Wilson - 107 points (+8000)
3rd:  Roman Anthony - 72 points (+2200)

Related:  Roman Anthony signs an 8 year, $130M Pre-Arbitration Extension