Chaim Bloom talks Rafael Devers
This wasn't the Rafael Devers announcement that most Red Sox fans were hoping for, but it was ... something.
As was first reported by Jeff Passan and confirmed by the Red Sox, the team has come into a one-year, $17.5 million deal with the third baseman, avoiding arbitration in what is the final season before he becomes free agent eligible.
Devers, who was projected to make $16.9 million by MLB Trade Rumors for his final season of arbitration-eligibility, is coming off a 2022 in which he made $11.2 million.
The Red Sox continue to make it clear that their stated priority is to lock up Devers to a long-term extension. The 26-year-old is coming off a 2022 campaign in which he hit .295 with an .879 OPS and 27 home runs.