Boston Red Sox Feel The Urgency To Sign All Star Third Baseman Rafael Devers

Historically, the Boston Crimson Sox have been aggressive within the American League East.

The rivalry between the Crimson Sox and New York Yankees has at all times been intense, however latest video games haven’t been as significant.

The Crimson Sox completed final within the American League East, 21 video games behind the Yankees. That speaks volumes.

Crimson Sox followers are among the many most engaged, and knowledgable followers in Main League Baseball.

On February 10, 2020, Crimson Sox followers had been furious when Boston traded All Star outfielder Mookie Betts, together with pitcher David Value, to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In return, Boston acquired infielder Jeter Downs, outfielder Alex Verdugo and catcher/second baseman Connor Wong.

Nonetheless solely 23, the right-handed hitting Downs made his main league debut final season. He performed 14 video games, hitting .154/.171/.256/.427 with one residence run and 4 RBIs, in 41 plate appearances. Downs struck out 21 instances.

Wong, 26, has a complete of 70 plate appearances for Boston in components of the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Final yr, he appeared in 27 video games. Wong hit .188/.273/.313/.585 with one residence run and 7 RBIs in 56 plate appearances. He struck out 16 instances.

Verdugo, a left-handed hitter, was the first participant returned to the Crimson Sox for Betts and Value.

Verdugo, 26, is coming into his prime baseball years.

Verdugo was drafted by the Dodgers out of Sahuaro Excessive Faculty in Tucson, Arizona within the 2014 MLB First 12 months Participant Draft.

Final season, Verdugo was an everyday outfielder for the Crimson Sox, enjoying each proper and left fields. He hit .280/.328/.405/.732 with 11 homers and 74 RBIs in 644 plate appearances. He struck out solely 86 instances, exhibiting good bat management, whereas making good, constant contact on the plate.

Wanting again on that blockbuster commerce, Crimson Sox followers have each purpose to be upset.

Betts. 30, has been an All Star six instances, together with twice with the Dodgers; the newest being 2022.

Betts has been named to the All-MLB Group thrice, in 2019, 2020 and once more this yr.

Betts has received 5 Silver Slugger Awards, together with one for this previous season.

Proving he’s an entire participant, Betts has received six Gold Gloves, the newest coming this previous season.

A former fifth spherical decide by the Crimson Sox in 2011, Betts packs loads of punch in his 5-9, 180 pound body.

Whereas Verdugo continues to point out promise, Downs and Wong have work to do to ascertain their credentials as main league gamers.

If the season had been to start out tomorrow, fangraphs.com lists each Downs and Wong as utility gamers on the staff’s 26-man roster. Verdugo is listed because the No. 2 hitter within the Crimson Sox lineup.

Crimson Sox Lose Xander Bogaerts:

To this point this offseason, the Crimson Sox have addressed bettering their bullpen and have added an outfielder.

The Crimson Sox have signed three-time All Star nearer Kenley Jansen to a two-year, $32M contract.

The staff signed reliever Chris Martin to a two-year deal value $17.5M. Martin will in all probability be the first set-up man for Jansen.

Boston signed left-handed hitting Japanese outfielder Masataka Yoshida to a five-year, $90M contract.

Yoshida, 29, stands out as the staff’s new leadoff hitter, however he’s unproven stateside.

These additions ought to assist. However Boston has misplaced a really consequential participant from their roster.

Proper-handed hitting Xander Bogaerts is a four-time American League All Star, having made the All Star staff in 2016, 2019, 2021, and final season.

Bogaerts has received 5 Silver Slugger Awards, the newest coming this previous season.

In 2019, Bogaerts was the shortstop on the 2019 All-MLB staff.

In components of 10 seasons with Boston, Bogaerts has a profession batting common of .292.

Final yr, Bogaerts hit .307/.377/.456/.833 with 15 homers and 73 RBIs.

Now Crimson Sox followers may be simply as indignant as they had been when their staff traded Betts.

The staff’s followers watched because it was introduced Bogaerts is signing an enormous, 11-year, $280M contract with the San Diego Padres.

The Padres reportedly made provides to Yankees slugger Aaron Choose and former Dodgers All Star shortstop, Trea Turner.

Once they misplaced Choose and Turner, the Padres turned their consideration to signing Bogaerts. They had been profitable.

The Crimson Sox had loads of time to signal Bogaerts. They clearly tracked his progress in direction of free company, however they didn’t finalize an extension.

The Boston Globe’s Julian McWilliams reported Crimson Sox chief baseball officer, Chaim Bloom had this to say after Bogaert’s signing was reported. “I count on followers might be harm. I absolutely count on that, and I additionally count on that we’re going to place this collectively and ship them profitable baseball.”

Damage? One would count on so. And extra.

Signing Rafael Devers Is Crucial:

Having misplaced Betts and Bogaerts, two-thirds of the extremely profitable All Star core of the Crimson Sox now play in opposition uniforms.

Consideration now turns to All Star third baseman Rafael Devers. Devers can change into a free agent after the 2023 season.

As estimated by fangraphs.com, the 2023 payroll for Boston is $172M, down from $221M the staff spent on payroll this previous season.

Rafael Devers is in his final yr of arbitration, and he’s estimated to make $16.9M, until he indicators an extension.

Contemplate that the Crimson Sox might be paying often-injured pitcher Chris Sale $27.5M for the following two seasons.

Contemplate that the Crimson Sox signed shortstop/second baseman Trevor Story to a 6-year, $140M deal as a free agent final yr.

What would possibly Devers, by far one of the best participant on the Crimson Sox roster, fetch on this remaining season of staff management?

Based on baseball analyst Jon Heyman of the New York Submit, the Crimson Sox supplied Devers $200M-plus. Devers is claimed to be searching for a 10-year contract value a minimum of $300M-plus.

About Rafael Devers:

In his baseball prime on the age of 26, Devers might attain free company subsequent season with years of baseball life remaining.

The left-handed hitting Devers has a really well-proportioned, robust, compact, 6-0, 240 pound body.

The Crimson Sox signed Devers as a global free agent for $1.5M out of the Dominican Republic in 2013.

On the time he was signed, Devers was thought-about to be among the many greatest pure worldwide hitters accessible. He has lived as much as that superior billing.

This scout first evaluated Devers in 2015, when he was solely 18.

On the time, this scout positioned a scouting Grade of 60 on Devers, which means he’s an All Star high quality participant.

Devers was younger and uncooked on the time, however his exceptional knack for hitting was evident.

Devers performed components of solely 5 minor league seasons, making his massive league debut in 2017, when he was 20-years-old. He might attain free company far before most massive league gamers.

Devers has a candy, highly effective, left-handed swing, with loads of pop in his bat.

Devers is a constant, regular hitter with wonderful bat management and the power to hunt his pitch and drive the ball off the barrel of the bat.

Usually hitting the precise/middle discipline hole, Devers pounded 42 doubles final season, a profession greatest. He additionally blasted 27 residence runs in 614 plate appearances. He drove in 88 runs, down from 113 in 2021.

Devers drew 50 walks, whereas putting out solely 114 instances. He has had some bother with excessive fastballs in video games this scout has noticed, however he’s so good, and so dependable, pitchers have a troublesome time getting him to chase their choices.

Devers has by no means been seen as a Gold Glove caliber third baseman, however he clearly has sufficient potential to stay a fixture on the place. His errors decreased final yr from 22 in 2021 to 14, as he handed fewer probabilities.

Devers made each the 2021 and 2022 American League All Star Groups, and he received a Silver Slugger Award in 2021.

Conclusions:

The Boston Crimson Sox misplaced each Mookie Betts (traded) and Xander Bogaerts (signed by the Padres as a free agent) from their core of strong, middle-of the order, All Star caliber hitters.

Now, whereas they’ve added worldwide outfielder Masataka Yoshida as a free agent, the Crimson Sox are underneath immense strain to signal All Star third baseman Rafael Devers to a prolonged contract extension.