Celtics, Bruins, Red Sox have to pay their players to win
Boston Red Sox
Signing one franchise player is one thing. Imagine trying to sign two. That might be what the Boston Red Sox have to do.
3B Rafael Devers is in his final year of arbitration eligibility and SS Xander Bogaerts has a player option to opt out of his current deal and become a free agent. Both players are beloved in Boston and Red Sox Nation would be incensed if the Red Sox lose both.
The good news is Devers isn’t going anywhere. He won’t hit free agency until 2024, but the Red Sox need to take this opportunity and sign Devers to an extension. Depending on your source, the Red Sox have either opened negotiations or they’re not in a rush to extend Devers.
No active extension talks between the Red Sox and Rafael Devers, according to a source with direct knowledge. Nothing imminent on that front.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) October 25, 2022
Boston is going to try hard to extend him this winter. That intention has not changed. Just have not picked up talks in recent weeks.
The big question is does Bogaerts exercise his player option to become a free agent, hoping to cash in on the money thrown around Major League Baseball. Salaries have exploded for the top talent in the league. This could be Bogaerts’ last chance for a huge payday since he’s north of 30 years old.
The Red Sox seem prepared if Bogaerts leaves. They signed SS Trevor Story before the season, which looks like Bogaerts insurance in case Bogaerts opts out. Story has been solid defensively, but isn’t the offensive weapon Bogearts is. Story’s injury-shortened 2022 season wasn’t a good introduction to Boston either.
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If Bogaerts leaves, it would remind fans of the Mookie Betts trade: a home grown talent becomes one of the best at his position but has to go elsewhere to be paid market value.
The worst part was all Red Sox Nation could do was watch Betts continue his elite play with the Los Angeles Dodgers and win a World Series, while the Red Sox got next to nothing in return. Boston fans will be in fear of history repeating if Bogearts leaves.
It shouldn’t had ended that way with Betts. Bogearts time in Boston shouldn’t end that way either.