The Boston Red Sox may look entirely different next season with the departure of star shortstop Xander Bogaerts and the signing of Japanese superstar outfielder Masataka Yoshida this offseason, but perhaps their most impactful player will be staying in Boston for quite some time.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports, the Red Sox and star third basemen Rafael Devers have agreed to a massive 11-year, $332 million contract extension.
Confirmed: The Boston #RedSox have signed Rafael Devers to an 11-year, $332 million contract extension, as Carlos Baerga first reported.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 4, 2023
This comes after the Red Sox avoided arbitration with Devers on Tuesday and signed him to a one-year $17 million deal for the 2023 season.
Devers is coming off another excellent season with the Red Sox in 2022, slashing .295/.358/.521 along with 27 home runs and 88 RBIs.
It was a crucial move for the Red Sox if they want to return to prominence in the AL East after a disappointing 2022 campaign.
Devers certainly commanded a pretty penny from the Red Sox, but most around the MLB world believe that he is entirely worth it with his elite play over the years.
“The Red Sox were not willing to let history repeat itself a third time,” tweeted Red Sox beat writer for Masslive.com Chris Cotillo.
The Red Sox were not willing to let history repeat itself a third time. https://t.co/jqOav0enFa
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) January 4, 2023
“They did it, They finally, actually, did it. Sure, maybe it took the fans bullying them into it. But they did it,” tweeted Alex Barth of 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston.
They did it. They finally, actually, did it.
Sure, maybe it took the fans bullying them into it. But they did it. https://t.co/PapdrQHQ9t
— Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) January 4, 2023
Two other AL East showed immense talent last season, with both the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays making the playoffs.
Boston had to make this move, and now they need to focus on building a competitive lineup around Rafael Devers to compete in the division moving forward.
