Boston Red Sox have interesting contract comp for Rafael Devers
There has not been any traction in terms of an extension between Rafael Devers and the Boston Red Sox. Now we may know why that is the case.
According to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe, the Red Sox are looking at Matt Olson’s extension with the Braves as a comparable offer for Devers. The Red Sox third baseman, meanwhile, said that he knows his value, even if he declined to say who he regards as a comparable deal.
Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox disagree on value
Olson received a respectable contract from the Braves shortly after being acquired. He signed an eight year deal worth $168 million, including a $20 million team option for 2030. His average salary of $21 million per is certainly respectable.
Devers, meanwhile, disagrees. While Olson may have been content with that type of an offer, the Red Sox third baseman wants more. He is still yet to enter his prime, but has proven his value in the midst of their lineup. At just 25 years old, it is possible that he is only going to get better in the next few years.
That is the problem. The Red Sox apparently consider Olson a viable comparison to Devers going forward. On the other hand, Devers seems to think that he is better, although his actual thoughts remain between himself and Xander Bogaerts – another player battling the Red Sox in terms of negotiating a possible extension.
On the positive side, there is time for the two sides to look to bridge this gap. Devers is not slated to be a free agent until the conclusion of the 2023 season. On the other hand, if he continues to produce at this rate, he will only increase his price tag. No matter what, the Red Sox are going to need to pay – it would make more sense to do so now than to wait for what could be another stellar year.
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The Boston Red Sox are comparing Rafael Devers and Matt Olson for contract purposes. The two sides are not in agreement with that thought.