Boston Red Sox
“The friendship or the relationship when guys get traded, it doesn’t really change.”
Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer rose through Boston’s farm system together. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe
August 18, 2026 | 6:38 PM
2 minutes to read
At one point not too long ago, the future of the Red Sox was seemingly resting on the shoulders of a pair of blue-chip prospects, Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer.
Anthony and Mayer were viewed as the faces of an intriguing influx of young talent, with the duo rising through the ranks of Boston’s farm system over the last few years before finally breaking through in the big leagues in 2025.
Even with Anthony’s injury woes this season, there is still plenty of optimism surrounding his long-term standing as a franchise pillar in Boston — especially after the Red Sox signed him to an eight-year, $130 million contract extension last summer.
But Mayer is now looking for a fresh start on the West Coast, with the Red Sox dealing the shortstop to the San Francisco Giants just before MLB’s trade deadline on Aug. 3 in exchange for lefty reliever Erik Miller.
Ahead of Anthony’s anticipated rehab debut with the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs on Tuesday, the 22-year-old outfielder was asked about Boston’s decision to deal away his close friend and teammate.
“Obviously, Marcelo hit a little different. I came up with him and lived with him every day. He was my roommate since I was 18, 19 years old,” Anthony told reporters at Portland’s Hadlock Field, including Tommy Cassell of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. “Seeing him go, I was excited for him to kind of get a new opportunity, almost like a refresh. To be back close to home, I think it will be good for him. Hopefully get to see him come to Boston. That would be pretty cool, right?
“But you know, I was sad. Obviously spoke to him, still speak to him quite a bit. Hope all goes well for him always. The friendship or the relationship when guys get traded, it doesn’t really change. I have a lot of friends that have gotten traded along the way, and a lot of great people that I still talk to and see on a consistent basis.”
Roman Anthony gives his reaction to close friend and former roommate Marcelo Mayer being dealt away by the Boston Red Sox at the MLB trade deadline. pic.twitter.com/x6e4l9j36H
— Tommy Cassell (@tommycassell44) August 18, 2026
Mayer — selected fourth overall in the 2021 MLB Draft by Boston — failed to live up to his projection as a franchise shortstop with the Red Sox.
The 23-year-old infielder seemingly couldn’t put it together during his time with Boston. Over his 114 total games with the Red Sox — spread across two seasons — Mayer batted .223 with seven home runs and 32 RBI.
He last played for the Red Sox in late June because of a bone stress reaction in his left forearm, and several of his seasons in Boston’s system were cut short by various ailments.
Mayer — who is expected to join the Giants at some point this week after his own rehab stint — could return to Fenway Park this weekend with San Francisco for a weekend series from Friday through Sunday.
It remains to be seen if Anthony will also be at Boston’s ballpark this weekend, as he is just starting to work his way back from a wrist/finger injury that has sidelined him since May 4. Anthony will bat second and DH for the Sea Dogs on Tuesday.
“For me, being out here and being on the field is what gives me more peace than anything,” Anthony told Cassell of getting back out on the baseball diamond. “So, to get out of there and out of hot Fort Myers and be able to come back here and play a baseball game today is a blessing.”
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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