The Boston Red Sox were under a microscope and, for the time being, they’ve come out unscathed.
The Red Sox and superstar third baseman Rafael Devers avoided arbitration on Tuesday. Boston and Devers agreed to terms on a one-year contract that will keep Devers around, presumably, for at least the 2023 season at minimum.
ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan tweeted about the news of Devers’ one-year deal. Passan reported, “Third baseman Rafael Devers and the Boston Red Sox are in agreement on a one-year, $17.5 million deal to avoid arbitration, sources tell ESPN.”
Third baseman Rafael Devers and the Boston Red Sox are in agreement on a one-year, $17.5 million deal to avoid arbitration, sources tell ESPN.
This does not stop the sides from reaching a long-term contract extension. The fact that the sides got this deal done shows discussions.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 3, 2023
The threat that Devers could leave the team that signed him in August 2013 still looms though. But, in turn, so does the truth that the team could still potentially re-sign him. As Passan pointed out, “This does not stop the sides from reaching a long-term contract extension. The fact that the sides got this deal done shows discussions.”
But, pessimism may still remain. And perhaps for good reason, as Boston has done a terrible job of keeping their star players. The Red Sox saw All-Star shortstop Xander Bogaerts leave for a huge contract with the San Diego Padres. You don’t need to tell a Red Sox fan anything about what happened with Mookie Betts either to get them pessimistic about this. But that would only worsen things, probably.
Reactions to the move were felt after it was made.
The Athletic’s Jordan Moore pondered what exactly the hold up on a long-term extension is.
What could possibly be the explanation for not extending Rafael Devers in a Red Sox uniform?
At 26 years old he legit has an opportunity to be one of the best to ever put on a Boston uniform.
.283 career avg, already 139 HR, 455 RBI and his 2022 percentiles were among the best. pic.twitter.com/wbYT9VxS3r
— Jordan Moore (@iJordanMoore) January 3, 2023
Hector Gómez tweeted a scathing quote from former MLB player Carlos Baerga, in which Baerga called the Red Sox “embarrassing” and that “They don’t deserve a player like Rafael Devers.”
“The Red Sox are embarrassing. They don’t deserve a player like Rafael Devers. It’s incredible that they haven’t offered him a contract like he deserves. My advice to him is to put the numbers he always puts in next season and sign with a team that values him.”
– Carlos Baerga https://t.co/4itzdrDUtJ
— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) January 3, 2023
Boston-area producer Tyler Milliken tweeted, “Another day without a Rafael Devers extension” with a picture of Devers with his hands on his head in despair.
Another day without a Rafael Devers extension. pic.twitter.com/yV0fkXgy2f
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) January 3, 2023
And then Cespedes Family BBQ tweeted a meme which showed the difference in tone of the tweet from beginning to end.
Third baseman Rafael Devers and the Boston Red Sox are in agreement on a…
One-year deal to avoid arbitration https://t.co/WXG8ruivMk pic.twitter.com/UZMdLeURtH
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) January 3, 2023