According to J.P. Long, the former Red Sox director of communications and media relations, Anthony matched an 86-year-old franchise record once held by Ted Williams. Long noted that Anthony's 82 times on base through his first 50 games were equal to the amount of times Williams reached base in the same sample size to begin his career.

A talented 21-year-old becomes a wealthy man, while baseball takes another step away from the purity of a process never meant to influence financial outcomes.

The Boston Red Sox have been the hottest team in baseball, and the excitement reached another level on Wednesday when they agreed to a long-term extension with rookie and top prospect Roman Anthony. Anthony signed an eight-year,