Just a few days ago, the Boston Red Sox front office was feeling the heat with critics questioning their trade deadline strategy. No blockbuster moves or reinforcement; they simply seem to trust their young core. But if anyone still questioned their vision, Roman Anthony actually gave them the loudest answer.

The 21-year-old outfielder, who is barely just 46 games into his MLB career, has taken Fenway by storm. Now the Red Sox decided to reward him, and how. They apparently are giving him an eight-year $130 million contract that could balloon to $230 million with the escalators. It’s a bet not on Anthony’s talent simply, but on Boston’s future.

And this one for sure feels different. ESPN’s Jeff Passan, who broke the news of the deal, wrote, “Roman Anthony has done nothing but impress since making his Red Sox debut in mid-June. Now, the club is making a sizable commitment to ensure the outfielder is a part of its core for years to come.” And Anthony’s numbers don’t lie.

Anthony has a .283 average, .400 OBP, and .828 OPS. Plus, a maturity at the plate that very few of his age really seem to have. He is a second-round pick from 2022 and has quickly become the heart of the lineup that’s trying to be in the playoffs. But while the 21-year-old rising star is being rewarded, another is simply sinking away.

Marcelo Mayer, who was once seen as Boston’s infield future, is not in an injury dilemma. A right wrist sprain, brushed off as a minor thing, has turned into a possible second ending saga. Bob Nightengale did report, “Marcelo Mayer’s sprained wrist is more serious than the Red Sox initially envisioned. Season-ending surgery is a possibility.” Right now, Mayer is waiting for his wrist to respond to the anti-inflammatory injection he got on Saturday; the injection typically takes 72 hours to kick in. If all goes well, he could avoid surgery that could end his season. But if not, this could brutal blow for Boston.

It’s because Triston Casas is already sidelined, and losing Mayer, another young talent, could leave Boston scrambling to assemble the team. If everything works, he could return in September, and if not, the Red Sox are looking at a depleted infield, probably during the most crucial stretch of the season. So while Anthony’s extension for sure offers optimism, it also sees another battle with the shadows of his injury. For now, Boston is doing what they can—lock in what works, and pray what’s broken heals right in time.

Red Sox feeling alive like never before

Fenway Park is alive in a way it hasn’t been in years, and the Boston Red Sox are soaking in every bit of that energy. They won seven straight and 16 of their last 18 home games. This team is not just heating up; they are making their rivals, like the Yankees, sweat. And Tuesday night was the latest proof. Garrett Crochet, the team’s newest ace, stepped on the mound after a nine-day breather. And he kept the momentum at stake with a nail-biting seven-inning, two-earned-run performance.

And then he struck out the Royals catcher Luke Maile to end the seventh, and Fenway simply got their “yay moment.” Crochet too let out a huge roar and stormed off the mound, like a man who knows something bigger is coming. Was this his sharpest game of the year? You can’t say so. But that didn’t matter really, because the crowd was all in, and Crochet enjoyed every bit of that attention.

Postgame, he said, “It’s a fun atmosphere right now. I can only imagine what it’s going to be in a couple of months.” That’s the thing; one can say when they see what’s next clearly on their mind, and October seems to be in his. Well, Boston has not made it to the playoffs since 2021. And for a while, it did feel that Fenway magic was fading, but lately it’s been feeling different. That fake hype has changed into a real belief that people have. If Boston can keep this up and if, honestly, the Yankees and Aaron Judge make no progress, then they might just be headed to October this time. Don’t you think?