Red Sox Delay Contract Talks With Rising Pitcher Connelly Early

Boston's top pitching prospect has yet to receive extension offer despite strong debut

Mar. 14, 2026 at 4:35pm

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The Boston Red Sox have not yet engaged in contract extension talks with rising pitching prospect Connelly Early, despite his impressive debut last September. Early burst onto the scene with a 2.33 ERA over his first 19 1/3 innings in the majors, but the team appears to be taking a wait-and-see approach before committing to a long-term deal.

Why it matters

Early's strong performance has elevated him as a key part of Boston's pitching future, but the Red Sox have historically been cautious about offering early contract extensions, even to top prospects. This approach allows the team to evaluate players more thoroughly before making a long-term commitment.

The details

The Red Sox have not yet discussed a contract extension with Early's representatives at Excel Sports Management. Excel clients typically pursue shorter-term deals covering arbitration years rather than long-term extensions, and Early has only 20 days of MLB service time. The team can gain an extra year of control over Early and fellow prospect Payton Tolle if they start the season in the minors for a certain period.

  • Early burst onto the scene with a 2.33 ERA over his first 19 1/3 innings in the majors last September.
  • Early has only 20 official days of MLB service time.

The players

Connelly Early

A rising pitching prospect in the Red Sox organization who had an impressive debut in 2025.

Payton Tolle

Another Red Sox pitching prospect who, like Early, has limited MLB service time.

Roman Anthony

One of the Red Sox prospects who has received an early contract extension from the team.

Kristian Campbell

Another Red Sox prospect who has received an early contract extension from the team.

Ceddanne Rafaela

Another Red Sox prospect who has received an early contract extension from the team.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

The Red Sox's cautious approach to contract extensions, even for top prospects like Early, highlights the team's desire to thoroughly evaluate players before making long-term commitments. This strategy has allowed the team to lock up other young talents in the past, but it remains to be seen if Early will receive a similar deal in the near future.