Red Sox Reportedly Used Olson's Contract as 'Basis for Discussions' with Rafael Devers

According to Alex Speier, the Red Sox used Matt Olson's offseason contract with the Braves as a ''basis for discussions'' with All-Star third baseman Rafael Devers. 

According to @alexspeier, the #RedSox used Matt Olson’s 8-year $168 million extension as a “basis for discussions” with Rafael Devers last winter.

The reasoning for that comp was the concern about him sticking at 3B.

It’s going to cost a lot more than that.#DirtyWater| #MLB pic.twitter.com/GhcFPNXS6D

— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) July 18, 2022

Olson received an eight-year, $168 million deal with the Braves, working out to $21 million on average per year. 

To offer that to Rafael Devers is just ridiculous. 

Let's compare the two players.

Olson is a very good player, that much is obvious. The twenty-eight year old first baseman batted .271/.371/.540 last season, with 39 home runs, 111 RBIs, and 101 runs in 156 games. 

For his seven year career, Olson has played 669 games, batted .253/.347/.507, with 159 home runs, 433 RBIs, and 367 runs scored. 

Comparing Olson's 2021-22 season with Devers' is quite similar.

Last season, Devers batted .279/.352/.538, with 38 home runs, 113 RBIs, and 101 runs in 156 games. Pretty uncanny just how similar these two players' seasons were.

For his six year career, Devers has played 634 games, batting .285/.343/.522, with 134 home runs, 422 RBIs, and 417 runs scored. 

Keep in mind that Devers is just twenty-five years old and putting up these numbers. In three years' time, with more experience and entering his prime, it's pretty fun to think just how good Devers is going to be. 

Devers is already one of the most feared hitters in all of baseball and he's taken that to another level this season, batting .324, with 22 home runs and 55 RBIs at the halfway mark of the season. Each year his stats have improved more and more, and for a franchise player like Devers $21 million simply is not going to cut it. Nor should it. If the Red Sox truly want to keep the third baseman around, they should be willing to offer a substantial amount of money to him. If they don't, there are plenty other teams around the league who would have no hesitation doing so. 

According to Jeff Passan, Devers is looking for more than $300 million on his next contract, with the Red Sox not willing to pay more than $200 million. 

Jeff Passan on WEEI: “Rafael Devers wants more than $300 million and the Red Sox seem to be hesitant on giving him that.” pic.twitter.com/tTtd6cp0GN

— splitterball (@splitterbaII) April 13, 2022

That's a lot of money, obviously. However, the Red Sox better think twice before they make another low-ball offer to the All-Star third baseman. It's only a matter of time before Devers becomes fed up and looks elsewhere for his next contract.

The Red Sox are currently paying Devers $11.2 million in a one-year deal and he is under team control until the end of the 2023 season. 

 Photo Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports