Sources - Rafael Devers, pink Sox finalizing eleven-yr, $331M extension - ESPN

5:25 PM ET

Jeff Passan

shut ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of "The Arm: inside the Billion-greenback secret of essentially the most helpful Commodity in activities"

Joon Lee

shut up to now a team of workers creator at Bleacher ReportCornell institution graduate

Third baseman Rafael Devers and the Boston red Sox are finalizing an eleven-12 months, $331 million contract extension, sources told ESPN, a deal that allows you to hold the 26-year-ancient big name from attaining free company this 12 months and constitutes the longest and greatest assure ever given through the franchise.

The agreement, which is expected to be signed Wednesday evening and will be the largest ever for a 3rd baseman, is available in the midst of an laborious iciness for the red Sox, who misplaced longtime shortstop Xander Bogaerts to San Diego in free company well-nigh three years after buying and selling superstar right fielder Mookie Betts to the los angeles Dodgers. providing Devers to a deal far longer than Manny Ramirez's eight-yr pact and greater than 50% larger than David expense's $217 million contract became sufficient for the two-time All-superstar to accept shepherding the red Sox out of ultimate area within the American League East and returned to contention.

The contract will delivery in 2023 and extend in the course of the 2033 season, sources spoke of. The one-year, $17.5 million contract Devers signed earlier in the week to stay away from arbitration may be superseded through the long-term deal.

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Devers debuted with Boston at two decades historic in 2017 and rapidly illustrated why scouts so loved his bat. His left-passed swing turned into perfectly suited for Fenway Park, with doubles thwacking off the eco-friendly Monster and home runs carrying out to correct box. Devers' acumen has best grown. In 2022, he hit .295/.358/.521 with 27 home runs, 88 RBIs and a career-most suitable OPS+.

It become akin to his 2021 season, during which Devers hit 38 home runs, and 2019, when he led the major leagues with 359 total bases as a 22-year-historical. The consistency made him the best candidate to preserve around future with the losses of Bogaerts and Betts, whose steadiness become amongst their defining characteristics. Early negotiations on a deal bore no fruit, with crimson Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom and Devers' agent, Nelson Montes de Oca of Rep 1, a ways apart of their valuations.

no matter if the backlash from losing Bogaerts and Betts -- and simply dropping -- had any effect on the consummation of the deal is doubtful. but on Monday, with Fenway Park internet hosting the majestic iciness traditional, lovers booed John Henry, a display of the sentiment toward the proprietor beneath whom the crimson Sox broke their 86-year World sequence drought earlier than profitable three greater championships.

year participant Contract 2022 Rafael Devers* eleven years, $331M 2015 David cost 7 years, $217M 2000 Manny Ramírez eight years, $160M 2011 Adrián González 7 years, $154M 2019 Chris Sale 5 years, $145M 2010 Carl Crawford 7 years, $142M *said Wed. with the aid of ESPN's Jeff Passan -- ESPN Stats & guidance

Seeing Bogaerts walk with a proposal tens of hundreds of thousands of bucks brief stung, chiefly with the red Sox designating for assignment Jeter Downs, the leading prospect return within the Betts deal, simply days after. Bogaerts, 30, was, like Devers, a homegrown star: 5 Silver Sluggers, 4 All-megastar appearances and two World series rings. The proposal of a protracted-time period left facet of the infield with Bogaerts and Devers felt herbal to a pink Sox fan base coming to terms with last-region finishes two of the previous three seasons, sandwiched around an ALCS appearance.

When Bogaerts left, the center of attention grew to become naturally to Devers, who benefited tremendously from the megadeals given out this winter. Aaron choose topped the listing with $360 million from the long island Yankees. Trea Turner obtained $300 million from Philadelphia, Bogaerts $280 million from the Padres. And Carlos Correa agreed to a pair of $300 million-plus deals, although clinical foibles have his repute in limbo.

beyond Bogaerts this offseason, World sequence hero Nathan Eovaldi left for the Texas Rangers, and the purple Sox fell short of signing distinctive free agent pursuits. as an alternative, the red Sox redistributed the materials across the roster via adding eastern outfielder Masataka Yoshida on a five-yr, $90 million deal, relievers Kenley Jansen (two years, $32 million) and Chris Martin (two years, $17 million), third baseman Justin Turner at two years for $21 million and starter Corey Kluber at a 12 months and $10 million.

Devers can be the roster's cornerstone and the face of the franchise for the new period of the purple Sox. even though the third baseman has greater defensively over this profession, he could doubtlessly circulation to first base or detailed hitter down the street. however so long as his swing and construction are even a facsimile of what he has completed, it won't rely what position he's enjoying.

ESPN Stats & advice contributed to this document.