By Dakota Randall
Contributing Sports Writer
If the Boston Red Sox are to succeed in their quest to add a right-handed slugger this offseason, they won't be doing so by trading for Brent Rooker.
The Athletics on Tuesday agreed to a five-year, $60 million extension with Rooker, according to multiple reports. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic was the first to report the news of Rooker's extension, which includes a vesting option for a sixth year that could boost the overall contract value to $90 million.
"Brent Rooker's extension with the A's will pay him $30 million over the first three seasons, which would've been his arbitration years," ESPN's Jeff Passan wrote on the X platform. "Rooker, 30, has been a late bloomer who thrived with the A's, and after they turned down opportunities to trade him, they instead extend him."
Rooker was floated as a potential Red Sox trade target ahead of last season's trade deadline. The speculation continued over the last few months before Rooker signed his extension with the A's.
Rooker hit just .200 with 10 homers over his first three seasons while splitting time with the Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres, and Kansas City Royals. But the designated hitter/outfielder took off after joining the A's in 2023, hitting .272 with 69 homers over the last two campaigns.
The Red Sox remain committed to balancing their lefty-heavy lineup this offseason. Recent reports indicate they're more likely to trade for Nolan Arenado than to sign Alex Bregman.
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