There’s no doubt Tanner Houck is a part of what the Boston Red Sox are trying to construct.
Houck’s a homegrown talent for the franchise, going from a 2017 first-round draft pick to an All-Star starting pitcher seven years later. The Red Sox have Houck, who is arbitration eligible for the first team this offseason, under team control for the next three seasons as the right-hander can’t reach unrestricted free agency until 2028.
But if it’s up to Houck, he will be pitching for the Red Sox well beyond that.
“I’m always open to (extension) conversations. I love Boston. And in the fall, leaves changing, this is what I want. This is right up my alley,” Houck recently told the Boston Herald’s Gabrielle Starr. “If it happens, great, if it doesn’t happen, no hard feelings by any means. Ultimately, teams got to do what’s best for them and what they feel is best. If I’m part of the plan, great. If not, while I have time here, I will continue to give everything I have for the city, in blood, sweat and tears.”
It doesn’t appear that an extension for Houck is imminent, but the Red Sox and the 28-year-old have had extension talks in the past. Houck said he discussed an extension with the team at the end of the 2022 season, a topic which reportedly was revisited during the 2024 campaign.
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It might be wise for Houck to try to ink a deal sooner rather than later, especially since he’s coming off the best season of his MLB career. Houck was named to the American League All-Star team for the first time, but he faded over the second half of the season to end with a 9-10 record, 3.12 ERA and 1.142 WHIP in 30 starts.
Houck saw the Red Sox hand contract extensions to Brayan Bello and Ceddanne Rafaela this past season, locking up two other homegrown assets for six and eight years, respectively.
And perhaps Houck is next in line to get an extension done.
