Joey Wendell. Mandatory credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
The Boston Red Sox have finally reached a long-term extension with Rafael Devers, but what are the next steps Chaim Bloom and Co. can take?
Just as fans were emotionally preparing for Chaim Bloom to begin demolishing the Boston Red Sox after Xander Bogaerts walked him into free agency this offseason, the general manager finally bought himself some goodwill. On Wednesday, he and the team agreed to an 11-year, $331 million extension with third star Rafael Devers.
Even if most fans would have preferred to keep the Devers and Bogaerts pair together in Boston for the rest of their careers, not losing the 26-year-old third baseman the same way they did the shortstop breeds optimism. But now the Bloom and Red Sox must build on that and keep making strides.
For starters, these three Red Sox moves would make a lot of sense in the wake of the approval of Rafael Devers’ contract extension.
Red Sox move on after Rafael Devers is locked up, No. 3 trade for Joey Wendle
It was recently reported that the Miami Marlins have been interested in one of Boston’s top prospects, first baseman Triston Casas, in recent weeks for a potential trade. If that’s going to happen, the Red Sox will likely need a huge running back, which will likely center around someone like young right-handed pitcher Pablo Lopez.
However, it’s unlikely that the team that just closed Devers on a long-term contract will now be looking for one of its best young assets, even after Casas has experienced some ups and downs during his first big-league game of the 2022 season. There is still another trade the Red Sox can start working on with the Marlins.
It was reported earlier in the offseason that Boston was interested in trading for utility outfielder Joey Wendell from Miami, apparently with the idea that he could play multiple spots and either fill in at second base with Trevor Storey filling the void at shortstop, or slip into that. Turn whenever the story gets out of line.
Wendle is not a superstar, but Boston has had great success with these types of multiplayer in recent years and Wendle could do well in the lineup. Likely not costing a ton in terms of revenue, making a deal for him could be the club’s equal as an instant solution to a shallow midfield.
[ad_2]
