Just hours after setting Rafael Devers‘ salary for the 2023 season (which was going to be his last arbitration campaign), the Boston Red Sox announced a long extension with him.
The Twitter universe was debating whether the fact the two sides announced they settled on a salary for this upcoming campaign was promising or a bad omen.
As it turns out, it was the former: Devers is now a part of the Red Sox project for the next 11 years, in exchange for $331 million.
“It turns out that Devers and the Red Sox settling on a salary for 2023 was indeed a good sign toward an extension. Unlike Mookie and Bogaerts, Devers will be in Boston for the next decade-plus,” MLB insider Mark Feinsand tweeted.
It turns out that Devers and the Red Sox settling on a salary for 2023 was indeed a good sign toward an extension. Unlike Mookie and Bogaerts, Devers will be in Boston for the next decade-plus. https://t.co/XlvZdSfxdd
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 4, 2023
After winning the 2018 World Series, Betts and Bogaerts wanted extensions.
Bogaerts actually got one, a six-year pact worth $120 million but with an opt-out after 2022.
Betts was asking for a lot, as he should have given his MVP status.
Betts ended up being traded before the 2020 campaign, and Bogaerts exercised his opt out even though the franchise knew he was probably going to test the market.
Those are two mistakes the Red Sox would probably want to get back.
They did make amends, or at least softened the blow of losing Bogaerts to the San Diego Padres in December, by extending Devers.
Devers is a top player in MLB, with his 4.9 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and 27 home runs in just 141 games.
He slashed a cool .295/.358/.521 with a 141 wRC+ in 2022.
Since he is just 26 and is already a top-two third baseman in the American League, he is expected to carry the Red Sox and lead them for the next decade.
NEXT: Stat Proves Why Rafael Devers Deserves His Payday