The Boston Red Sox announced a deal with third baseman Rafael Devers on Tuesday.
It’s probably not what fans had in mind, though.
They are in agreement with him on a one-year, $17.5 million contract to cover the last season of salary arbitration before he hits free agency.
Because of MLB insider Jeff Passan’s wording, we all thought the big-money extension the All-Star had been seeking had finally taken place.
— Steve Buchanan (@SBuchanan24) January 3, 2023
I saw "Third baseman Rafael Devers and the Boston Red Sox are in agreement…" and got really excited.
But alas, not a long-term deal. https://t.co/RZjUtBbi3w
— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) January 3, 2023
That’s not the case, though: Devers remains unsigned for 2024 and beyond.
Red Sox Stats does a good job explaining what this represents for Devers and the Red Sox.
Hint: it doesn’t change much.
He was going to get paid somewhere between 16-18 mil this year most likely, instead of fighting it out in front of a panel, they settled, Devers getting like 500K over a midpoint.
This is for every player's 4th-6th years of team control before free agency.
— Red Sox Stats (@redsoxstats) January 3, 2023
Devers is one of the most talented hitters in the American League and a starter at third base in last year’s All-Star Game.
He has proven his worth in the regular season and in the playoffs.
This past season, he had a .879 OPS and 27 home runs.
He knocked 38 balls out of the park in 2021, with an .890 OPS.
For his career, he is a .283/.342/.512 hitter, a rock-solid all-around contributor who can hit for average and power while showing good defense and arm.
He is not too fast, but with four excellent tools, it doesn’t matter.
Devers is about to become a very rich man when he signs his next long-term contract, whether it comes with the Red Sox or another team.
Boston failed to extend Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts, and both left the organization.
They don’t want to see something similar happening to Devers.
Red Sox need to sign devers to a long extension and stop the nonsense FSG #RedSox https://t.co/5oscqWmFKZ
— Behind the Monster's Wall (@monsters_wall) January 3, 2023
They still have some time to work out a deal.
NEXT: MLB Insider Reveals Rafael Devers 2023 Update