As extension talks continue, Red Sox, Devers settle on ’23 salary
BOSTON — Reaching a long-term extension with Rafael Devers has lengthy been a aim for Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom. While it hasn’t come to fruition but, the Sox introduced on Tuesday that they’ve prevented arbitration with their star third baseman by agreeing with him on a one-year contract for 2023.
The deal is price $17.5 million, a supply advised MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.
More essential, the Red Sox, in line with sources, are anticipated to proceed negotiating with their left-handed-hitting slugger on a multiyear extension that may forestall Devers from reaching free company after the 2023 season.
After dropping longtime chief and shortstop Xander Bogaerts through free company final month to the Padres, the Red Sox can unwell afford to have one other homegrown All-Star slip away.
In February of 2020, the Sox traded Mookie Betts to the Dodgers, although that was extra of a calculated choice based mostly on a number of years of unsuccessful negotiations with the five-tool star.
Devers and oft-injured ace Chris Sale are the one star gamers who stay from the 2018 juggernaut that received the World Series. Relievers Matt Barnes and Ryan Brasier are the opposite gamers who stay from that squad.
The Red Sox could have a brand new look to their crew subsequent season, as former core members Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez (Dodgers), Nathan Eovaldi (Rangers) and Christian Vázquez (Twins) have all moved on.
Rookie first baseman Triston Casas hopes to hit the bottom working after getting a month of at-bats on the finish of final season. It remains to be unclear who would be the beginning catcher. Story will both play second base or quick, making it doubtless the Red Sox will purchase yet another middle-infield bat to switch Bogaerts. With the free-agent market principally dried up, Boston’s path towards roster upgrades the remainder of the winter is more likely to be trades.
The one factor that’s for sure is that the 26-year-old Devers can be on the centerpiece of what the Red Sox do offensively in 2023 and years past that if the perimeters are profitable in negotiating an extension.
Devers has been an All-Star the previous two seasons. While 2022 was trending to be a career-best season for Devers, he fell off down the stretch whereas taking part in on an ailing proper hamstring.
Though Devers by no means used the harm as an excuse, Cora acknowledged on the Winter Meetings in December that his third baseman was impacted by basically hitting on one good leg.
Devers nonetheless managed to slash .295/.358/.521 with 42 doubles, 27 homers and 88 RBIs.
The Red Sox summoned the 20-year-old Devers to the Major Leagues in the midst of the 2017 pennant race and he’s mainly been raking ever since. In 689 profession video games, Devers has a line of .283/.342/.512 with 139 homers and 455 RBIs.
