Matt Olson isn’t a fair comparison to what Raphael Davers should be getting but the Boston Red Sox give him that anyway.
How serious are the Boston Red Soxes about keeping Raphael Devers in Bentown? So far, they don’t seem willing to go any further to keep their third star at the base for very long.
Devers, the All-Star star for the second consecutive season, is on his way to becoming a cornerstone of the franchise. Still only 25 years old, he’s making a solid push to get a huge contract. He went to All-Star Break with the league’s 112th best hit while pairing with 22 home runs, 55 RBI, and a slash of .324/.379/.601.
How much does it cost to keep Devers in Boston? It would take much more than trying to match what the Atlanta Braves gave first baseman Matt Olson – the reported comparison the Red Sox used to try to extend it.
The Red Sox Can’t Be Serious With This Contract Offer To Rafael Devers
Matt Olson is a completely different player than Raphael Devers. They play in two different locations, separated by three years. Devers’ position in third base gives him a slight lead although even if we consider Olson’s Gold Glove abilities, we can only call it a tie. However, it is much more difficult to find a long-running third baseman than anyone who plays first base. The Red Sox may be the only contender in baseball right now without an answer at first base, so they’re probably misleading.
Devers has not outdone Olson by far. It has a life slash of .285/.343/.522 compared to the .253/.347/.507 Olson has made in his career. It’s really only the average hitting that pretty much separates the two.
But even if we call it all even, Davers’ age has to play a factor. Under team control over the next season as well, he reached free agency at a relatively young age, which should at least put him in the conversation for a deal approaching $250 million.
The deal Olson signed with the Braves would have made a lot of people happy but it was “only” $168 million over 8 seasons for $21 million. A year later, with Devers being the youngest player and the top five MVP nominees, one would expect the Red Sox to come close to something at least $200 million. Even this could be considered a low bid.
What fair offer can the Red Sox make to Rafael Devers?
that AAV $21 million Devers will put into the neighborhood what Jose Ramirez got from the Cleveland Guardians. Many would regard his acceptance of this contract as a bargain. While Devers has more to prove to get into Ramirez’s status, one has to believe he should get north of the $23 million that Josh Donaldson is getting paid.
It would be a mistake by Red Sox trading and giving Devers nearly $35 million from AAV gets Anthony Rendon of the Los Angeles Angels to slack and spend a lot of time on IL. They have an advantage over some of those other deals signed with third base men. Devers is young and the number of years those dollars are being handed out can really help them.
At the very least, the Red Sox needs to pay Devers more than Trevor Story and the $23.3 million AAV it receives. Sometimes you don’t find the best comparisons in Atlanta; They are on your own list. An 8-year, $200 million deal is far less insulting than trying to match what Braves offered Olson. It also likely won’t be enough to get Devers to sign.
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