*Photo from MassLive*
They were clamoring all offseason to do it, and now it's done. The Boston Red Sox and 3B Rafael Devers have agreed to a 11 year, $331 million extension, according to former big leaguer Carlos Baerga and USA Today's Bob Nightengale. The deal has been confirmed by the Red Sox.
Already having been one of the better players in baseball, Devers stepped up his play big time the last two seasons. In 2021 and 2022, Devers finished tied for 6th in baseball in extra base hits with 146, while hitting .287 with a .530 slugging percentage.
The day before the extension broke, the Red Sox and Devers had agreed to a one year contract to avoid arbitration, which would have paid Devers $17.5 million in 2023. This extension includes that salary but nullifies the one year, keeping Devers in Boston until 2033. There are no opt outs and there isn't a no trade clause, and Devers also gets a $20 million signing bonus.
Last season was the second straight season that Devers was selected to the All Star Game. He ended the season with a .295 batting average, .358 slugging percentage, and .879 OPS, blasting 27 home runs with 88 RBI's in 141 games played for Devers.
Boston initially signed Devers as an international free agent in August of 2013, when Devers was 16 years old. He was called up to the majors at the trade deadline in 2017 as a 20 year old, helping the Red Sox to an AL East title that season. He now becomes the biggest contract in Red Sox history, passing David Price's 7 year, $215 million deal.
Devers has had his share of playoff heroics in his career. In the 2017 ALDS, Devers had two homers, including an inside the park home run in game 4. Devers hit the game winning homer in game 5 of the 2018 ALCS, and spurred a comeback in game 4 of the 2018 World Series. All together, he has a .303 batting average with 8 homers and 26 RBI's in 26 playoff games.
Overall, Devers has played 6 major league seasons with the Red Sox. He has accumulated a .283 batting average, .342 on base percentage, and .512 slugging percentage, adding 455 RBI's with 139 home runs in 689 games played.
Devers is a two time all star in his career, earning the honors in 2021 and 2022. He has received down ballot MVP votes 3 times throughout his career, and set a single season best for home runs with 38 in 2021. He finished behind Jose Ramirez and Alex Bregman in fWAR, 3rd place among AL 3rd baseman.
The extension for Devers is another spot in a series of moves in the offseason. Justin Turner, Masataka Yoshida, Corey Kluber, Kenley Jansen, Joely Rodriguez, and Chris Martin have joined the Red Sox in the offseason.
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