Red Sox OF Ceddanne Rafaela happy with 8-year, $50M contract

Boston Red Sox rookie Ceddanne Rafaela has an eight-year contract worth a reported $50 million, and he has plenty of optimism.

"In eight years? I will have (won) a World Series," Rafaela, the starting center fielder, said Wednesday per The Boston Globe. "That's for sure."

The Red Sox officially announced the contract which takes effect immediately, runs through 2031 and includes an option year for the 2032 season. Boston did not disclose financial terms.

The Globe reported Rafaela had his one-year contract replaced by a deal paying him a $2 million signing bonus, $1 million salary in both 2024 and 2025, $2 million in 2026, $3.5 million in 2027, $5.5 million in 2028, $7.5 million in 2029, $10.5 million in 2030 and $13 million in 2031.

The native of Curacao will earn either $16 million or receive a $4 million buyout in his 2032 option year. Compensation could increase with escalators for 2030-32 tied to MVP votes and/or All-Star Game selections, according to the report.

Rafaela's now-former contract would have paid him a $743,500 salary in the major leagues, $120,600 while in the minors.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora referenced the Atlanta Braves' model of signing young, highly productive players to large, long-term contracts. Rafaela, the youngest player on the active roster at 23, joins 24-year-old right-hander Brayan Bello (six years, $55 million signed in March) in this strategy.

"It's great for the organization," Cora said. "... We've seen this model down south. It set up that organization for success for a long time."

Rafaela is batting .212 (7-for-33) with five RBIs, one double and two triples in 11 games. He hit at a .241 clip in 83 at-bats over 28 games in 2023.

"The organization always showed the trust they have in me and what I'm capable of on the field and I feel pretty good, the confidence they have in me," Rafaela said.

Rafaela, Boston's No. 4 prospect according to MLB.com, won the starting job in center field in spring training but can also play shortstop.

"Defensively, he is who he is, and there's a reason he's here with us," Cora told the Globe on Tuesday. "We made a decision (to have him be the season-opening center fielder) based on his defensive talent and so far it's been good.

"Obviously, he's a big part of what we're trying to accomplish and a big part of what the organization is trying to accomplish in the future," Cora continued.