There’s a model in MLB that has been developing for a few years now. It revolves around signing your younger players at a discounted rate. The first team to start this trend was the Atlanta Braves, and they’ve made it into an art form over the years. It’s a win/win for both the team and the player. The player gets the security and potentially generational wealth while still being able to get to free agency at some point. The team gets a cost-controlled asset on their books. The Boston Red Sox have recently started to play in this space after locking up their top pitching prospect Brayan Bello. They’ve now made a move that extends an exciting, young outfielder who was ranked #71 by MLB Pipeline entering this season. He’s also their starting centerfielder.
The Red Sox Extend Another Piece of Their Youth Movement
According to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo, the Boston Red Sox have reached an agreement with young outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela. Rafaela is known for his glove and speed, while his bat remains a bit of a work in progress. Either way, Craig Breslow pegged him as a player they’d like to keep around long-term during Monday’s solar eclipse.
What Ceddanne Rafaela Offers
Ceddanne Rafaela made his major league debut just last season. He had 89 plate appearances in the bigs with a slash line that left a little to be desired: .241/.281/.386. Throughout the minors, the 23-year-old has hit wherever he’s gone, but the profile was a bit concerning. His strikeout percentage in 2023 was 20.7% at Double-A, 21.9% at Triple-A, and ballooned to 31.5% at the MLB level. His walk rates in the 5% range suggest that he does have a bit of trouble with pitch selection.
If you’re a team like the Boston Red Sox, you’re used to seeing sluggers who can take the ball out of the ballpark with a higher strikeout rate. Ceddanne Rafaela doesn’t project as a slugger. His defense is solid, there’s no denying the glove as he’s made plenty of catches in centerfield that others might not make. He will win Gold Gloves if he can hit enough to stay in the majors.
Time will tell if it’ll be a win for the Red Sox. It’s encouraging to see them signing players long-term with the Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts sagas behind them.
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