Rafael Devers and Red Sox In "Steady" Discussions On Extension

With a 2023 agreement now in place, the Boston Red Sox and Rafael Devers can continue to hammer away at a long-term contract, and according to two insiders, those talks continue to be on a "steady" pace, which is better than it was earlier in the offseason.

Rafael Devers camp and Red Sox remain engaged in multiyear talks. Sides agreed at $17.5M for 2023, a nice sign. Discussion said to be “steady” on multiyear possibility. Devers has been seeking $300M plus, and recent star deals may only have reinforced that goal.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 4, 2023

Jon Heyman reiterates that Devers is looking for a deal that surpasses $300M, which would certainly make sense considering the free agent contracts that were handed out this offseason. 

Red Sox insider Chris Cotillo of MassLive posits that Devers will "almost certainly" not negotiate once the season starts, so getting something done between now and opening day is crucial. 

And while many are speculating that yesterday's deal to come to a contract agreement for the 2023 season to avoid arbitration is a good sign, Cotillo notes that "it’s important to remember the arbitration agreement doesn’t portend anything, whether that’s a long-term deal or a trade. It doesn’t preclude the Sox from working out a long-term deal with Devers at any point."

All fingers in Beantown continue to be crossed. 

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