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Joseph Zucker is the featured Columnist IV, 29, 2021.
Jim Davis of The Boston Globe.
Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reported that the Boston Red Sox and Rafael Devers have made zero progress in negotiations over a long-term extension.
Spotrac estimates that Devers will make $10.8 million in 2022, and he will be free agency in 2024.
The two sides still have time to reach an agreement, but it may not be as long as one would think.
NBC Sports Boston's John Tomase argued that if ownership is willing to pony up and pay market value for star players, then Devers could be a bellwether.
What is the holdup? It's possible that he's intent on reaching free agency, though he hasn't been as explicit about it as Betts was before he was traded to the Dodgers. Betts signed a massive $365 million extension that will keep him in Dodgers Blue through 2032.
We don't know what Devers wants, but the choice should be easy. It would be better to pay him $200 million at 25 than $300 million on the open market at 27. The fact that the two sides haven't come close to a long-term agreement should be a big red flag for fans worried that ownership believes it can win with a mid-market model despite large-market resources.
Mookie Betts was unable to agree on a new contract with the Red Sox. The final year of Betts' contract was not seen by Boston, so they traded him to the Dodgers.
If the 25-year-old digs in his heels like Betts did, the front office would be willing to do the same with him.
If a team re-signs players before they hit free agency, they can potentially save money down the road. Boston is not likely to get a hometown discount from Devers.
He finished with a.279/.352/.538 slash line, 38 home runs, and 113 runs scored, and was a Silver Slugger.
In the last few years, the Red Sox had one of MLB's highest payrolls. From 2004 to 2020 they were in the top five on opening day.
The effort from ownership to lower its financial burden was followed by Trading Betts. The franchise will likely show if the cost-conscious approach was only a blip or a more permanent strategy with the opt out of the two players.
