Predicting Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers will cash in on a big new deal

One of the biggest decisions this offseason for the Boston Red Sox will be whether they open the bank and extend the contract of budding superstar Rafael Devers, who is a year away from hitting free agency.

After a last-place finish in the American League East and basically being dominated by the other teams in the division, Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom will have the spotlight shining brightly and critically on him this offseason and rightfully so.

Not to take the Red Sox ownership off the hook, but Bloom’s role will be scrutinized this offseason depending on some of the major decisions in the wake like whether to re-sign pending free agents Xander Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez, Nathan Eovaldi and Michael Wacha.

Boston Red Sox biggest decision this offseason will be Rafael Devers

Along with some potential blockbuster trades and making a splash in free agency, it really will all start with the Devers contract extension.

Just 25 years old, the Red Sox third baseman has already had some monster years offensively with the team.  With that clutch gene at the plate and a knack for coming up big against the New York Yankees, Bloom and the Red Sox would be crazy not to lock this man up for years to come.

Of course, Red Sox fans everyone said the same things about Mookie Betts.  We all saw how that worked out which is another reason Bloom needs to make sure another homegrown superstar doesn’t take his talents to another team either through trade or free agency though Bloom says trading Devers is “not on the radar.”

While it is debatable as to which decision needs to be taken care of first to take care of the other, locking up Devers may absolutely encourage Bogaerts to re-sign with the team and perhaps even at a discount.  On the flip side, Bogaerts re-signing could influence Devers.  That latter scenario is what former Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez believes is monumental for the culture of the team.

"“If Xander ops out and leaves the team and J.D. [Martinez] leaves the team, I think [Rafael] Devers is most likely going to head the same way,” Martinez said, via RealGM.“Those guys are going to go.  They’re not going to have the essence of the franchise that we left.  The culture that we left is going to be lost.  And we don’t know when we’re going to get it back and how we’re going to get it back.”"

The jury is out on J.D. Martinez but imagine if a big market team like the Boston Red Sox couldn’t lock up homegrown talent like Betts, Bogaerts and Devers.  That is why backing up the brinks truck for Devers is most important this offseason and Bleacher Report is predicting that they will.

Bleacher Report predicts Devers will sign a massive extension with Boston Red Sox

An early prediction that Red Sox fans will love is Devers signing a 10-year, $260 million contract extension.

"“To extend Devers, the Red Sox would surely have to beat the 10-year, $260 million deal that Atlanta did with fellow 25-year-old third baseman Austin Riley in August,” Zachary D. Rymer of B/R writes.  “If they’re willing to make that leap, they should be able to get something done.”"

I agree and believe Bloom will have the green light to make such an offer to Devers who can be the face of the franchise for years to come.  Call him little Papi, the impact of Devers in the middle of that Red Sox lineup is valuable.  Coming off another All-Star season, the young slugger batted .295 with 27 homers and 88 RBI in a season in which he did battle some injuries.

That just shows the value of his production.  When Devers is hot, he is a tough out.  Not only that, but he is also a player who has come up clutch in the playoffs, helping the team win a World Series in 2018.  So, get out that check book Bloom and make it happen.

The next time Boston Red Sox see the that big smile of Rafael Devers, it will be while watching him sign that massive contract extension.