The Red Sox won’t give up their star third baseman. Dominican Raphael Devers Boston is in the final stages of agreeing to a $331 million, 11-year contract extension, sources told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand on Wednesday.
The club has not confirmed.
The Red Sox agreed to terms with Devers on Tuesday One year and US$17.5 million, thereby avoiding the salary arbitration process. Everything pointed to the two parties being close to a multi-year deal, which finally arrived on Wednesday.
It would surpass Mexican Adrian Gonzalez’s $154 million seven-year deal in 2011 as the biggest in club history. Signed with the Marlins in 2014. It would also be the sixth largest contract in MLB history.
Devers has become one of the best hitters in the majors in recent years. He ranks sixth in the majors in extra-base hits (146) over the most recent two seasons, while producing a .287/.355/.530 line batting average (137 OPS+).
After seeing the Red Sox sign Xander Bogaerts in free agency, they knew this was not the time for another publicity stunt, without another run maker of Devers’ talent.
In February 2020, the Red Sox traded Mookie Betts to the Dodgers, though it was a calculated decision after years of failed negotiations with the five-tool superstar. Devers and oft-injured ace Chris Sale were the stars left over from the 2018 World Series-winning club. Relievers Matt Barnes and Ryan Brazier are the other players left on that team.
The Red Sox will have a very different face next year, as Bogaerts, J.T. Key pieces like Martinez (Dodgers), Nathan Eovaldi (Rangers) and Puerto Rican Christian Vazquez (Twins) went to other teams.
In an effort to climb out of last place in the AL East, the Red Sox 2023 lineup will be led by Devers, Trevor Story, Japanese rookie Masataka Yoshida and Justin Turner. The season is still subject to clinical trial results. Puerto Rican Enrique Hernandez and Alex Verdugo will be key players in Puerto Rican Alex Cora’s lineup this coming season.