Red Sox and Rafael Devers agree to 11-year, $331 million contact extension
The Red Sox reached an agreement with All-Star third baseman Rafael Devers on an 11-year, $331 million extension, per Carlos Baerga on Instagram and Bob Nightengale on Wednesday.
The new Devers extension is not finalized yet, he has not yet taken a physical, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Once the deal is approved, Devers will get a $20 million signing bonus from the Red Sox.
Boston and Devers reached an agreement on Tuesday to avoid arbitration. The Dominican Republic native signed a one-year, $17.5 million deal for 2023. As part of this new contract extension, he will continue to earn that figure for 2023.
Devers new $331 million extension is the largest contract handed out in Red Sox history. The deal will take Devers through his age-36 season, it will reportedly include a no-trade clause and no opt-outs.
Devers’ new deal is the sixth-largest in major-league history by total value. The move comes in the wake of losing Xander Bogaerts to free agency in mid-December and Mookie Betts back in 2020.
Devers is a special offensive talent, he has 139 homes through his first 5 1/2 seasons. His bat will never be questioned, however his defense has always been a concern. The Red Sox could pivot Devers to the designated hitter role later in his career.
With this new extension, Devers becomes the face of the Red Sox franchise. If he plays the entire duration of his contract with the Red Sox, Devers would have played 17 years in Boston.
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