The Boston Red Sox and third baseman Raphael Devers avoided arbitration and agreed a deal for the 2022 season.
Tuesday, March 22nd was the deadline for MLB teams and players to submit their bids for next season. If neither party agrees, it means that they will go to arbitration sessions. For the Boston Red Sox, they avoided going to a hearing with one of their star players by securing him a new deal for the upcoming campaign.
The Red Sox and third baseman Raphael Devers negotiated a $11.2 million contract for the 2022 season on Tuesday.
Red Sox and Rafael Devers avoid judging at the bell
Just last year, Devers earned a salary of $4.58 million. For curious Red Sox fans, Devers has another year left in charge before he’s allowed to strike unrestricted free agency, which will happen at the conclusion of the 2023 season.
Devers is coming off an impressive 2021 season, racking up .279/.352/.538 while scoring 38 home runs, 113 RBIs and 165 scores in 156 games. He was named the third baseman on the All-Star Team and earned the first Silver Slugger award of his career.
The impressive play by Devers in Boston continued after the season to ALCS. In 11 games, Devers scored a batting average of 295, 1,028 OPS, five home runs and 12 RBI.
Devers and the Red Sox agreeing terms of a deal for the 2022 season is certainly good news for the fan base. The team will be looking to make the post-season again and reach the world championship for the first time since 2018.