Predicting the Red Sox next contract offer for Rafael Devers

The Boston Red Sox are expected to have a very difficult time extending Rafael Devers, but they’re reportedly ‘galaxies away’ from reaching an agreement.

The Boston Red Sox don’t have much left after losing Xander Bogaerts to free agency, but luckily, they still have Rafael Devers for at least another season. However, they may not have him around much longer if they repeat the mistakes they made with Bogaerts.

It seems likely that the gears may be turning a bit quicker for the Red Sox with Devers as they’ve expressed regret from the Bogaerts situation, but there’s no guarantee that they’ll ultimately offer Devers what he wants.

Had they been even more proactive and offered him what he was initially asking for, the task of extending him could’ve been a lot easier. Between his best friend being lowballed and leaving and him seeing what others are being offered on the market this offseason, he’s bound to drive a much harder bargain than he initially would’ve.

Given their history, it seems likely that they’ll lowball him on their next contract offer.

Red Sox likely won’t offer Rafael Devers what he wants just yet

Devers reportedly won’t talk contracts during the regular season, giving the Red Sox a hard deadline this offseason to extend him. If they fail to do so during this offseason, he’s more than likely to become a free agent and entertain offers on the market, which will certainly get him whatever he’s seeking.

He’s reportedly looking for a long-term deal worth at least $300 million, which is a lot but isn’t unreasonable considering his age, performance and the deals on the market this offseason.

In comparison, Bogaerts got an 11-year deal worth $280 million. He’s already in his age-30 season, yet he’s one of the best shortstops in the league, so he was worth a lot. Devers, who is in his age-26 season, played roughly as well as Bogaerts with the Red Sox this past season and will be just as valuable on the market.

They’ll likely offer him somewhere in the range of nine years, $250 million next, and he’ll almost certainly turn it down. Hopefully, they won’t let him walk and can keep upping the offer to avoid letting another homegrown star leave Fenway Park.