The Red Sox and Rafael Devers reportedly remain far apart in their negotiations regarding an extension. That’s bad news.
On “Sunday Night Baseball” last week, ESPN’s Jeff Passan said the Red Sox and Devers are dealing with a nine-figure gap in terms of price. Passan added more details to his ominous report Wednesday on “The Greg Hill Show.”
“I think the best way to characterize it is like this: the Red Sox are over $200 million, and Rafael Devers wants more than $300 million,” Passan said. “This thing is playing out in a very, very similar fashion to Mookie Betts. You have a young star who is excellent — not just an excellent baseball player, but has like a carrying skill. For Mookie Betts, it was just his all-around game. He doesn’t have the best power; he doesn’t have the best speed; he doesn’t have the best outfield glove. He’s not the absolute best at anything, he’s just great at everything. That leads to an MVP-caliber ballplayer. With Rafael Devers, you have a $300 million bat. If we’re just judging him on bat alone, he has a $300 million bat. The question the Red Sox have to ask themselves, and the question that will determine whether he signs up long-term to be a Boston Red Sox forever potentially, is if they believe his glove and a potential position change down the road changing their calculus of what they feel like he’s worth.”
Comparing the Red Sox’ talks with Devers to their negotiations with Betts is a bad omen, considering Boston traded him to the Dodgers before his free agency. Shortly thereafter, Betts signed a 12-year extension with Los Angeles worth $365 million.
It makes sense that Devers, who’s just 25 years old, would be seeking an extension in the $300 million range. The three highest-paid third baseman in the game — Anthony Rendon, Nolan Arenado and Machado — make between $32 million to $36.5 million annually. Fernando Tatis Jr. signed a 14-year contract worth $340 million.
With that in mind, Passan says the Red Sox may be unwilling to meet Devers’ demands, because they could be unsure if he’s going to be a third baseman long-term. Moving to first base — a less demanding position — would dampen his value.
“If he is a third baseman — an average third baseman, if he can get his glove to that point — then he’s a $300 million ballplayer,” Passan said. “If the glove doesn’t improve, and he needs to move over to first base, there’s never been a $300 million first baseman, and the ones who have made large sums of money tend to be really, really bad. These are the questions the Red Sox are asking themselves at this point.”
While it’s fair for the Red Sox to deliberate about a potentially $300 million investment, they have the money to spend. An array of high-priced players — Xander Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez, Nathan Eovaldi and David Price — are slated to come off the books next season (assuming Bogaerts opts out). Passan says the Red Sox can comfortably afford to re-sign Devers and Bogaerts, regardless of Devers’ future position.
“For a team like the Boston Red Sox that does really well financially, that has really smart people running it, I just have a difficult time understanding why there’s this barrier that’s necessarily in place,” Passan said. “You look at the Red Sox’ payroll for next year, they’re commitments for next year I believe are around $60 million — not even. This is a team that can spend $230 million before going into the luxury tax. So yes, there’s room for a $300 million player on the Boston Red Sox payroll. There’s room, frankly, for Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts to be signed long-term. I just don’t think after Trevor Story especially that that’s something that’s in the cards.”
The Red Sox inked Story to a six-year, $140 million deal last month. Though Story is playing second base this season, he’s been a shortstop throughout his career. As Passan noted, it looks like the Red Sox may have signed him for Devers or Bogaerts insurance.
While Bogaerts has said he doesn’t want to negotiate during the season, the Red Sox could still come to terms with Devers this summer, despite their apparent nine-figure gap. Through five games, it doesn’t seem as if Devers’ future uncertainty is impacting his play.
“This is not a lost cause,” Passan said. “Where’s he at mentally? He’s OPS’ing .978, he looks pretty damn good.”
Hopefully Devers keeps looking pretty damn good in a Red Sox uniform long past 2023.
