Rafael Devers (G Fiume/Getty Images)
Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said third baseman Rafael Devers will miss out on 2022 The MLB postseason is “very important” to the team’s future.
Bloom said Thursday that the Red Sox “hope” to re-sign Devers, who will be out in 2023 Entering the final year of arbitration.
When asked about a potential Devers trade, Bloom told reporters, “It’s not on our radar. “
The 25-year-old infielder has been a key figure in Boston’s roster since he was drafted to the majors in 2017. He compiled .283/.342/.512 slashes and 139 home runs and 24 stolen bases in 689 games over six seasons.
Devers ranks sixth in 2022 WAR (4.9) qualified third baseman, per FanGraphs. Still, his personal success wasn’t enough to help the Red Sox compete in the competitive AL East . They finished last in the division with a 78-84 record. This marks the third time the club has missed the playoffs in the past four years. The Dominican Republic native told Christopher Smith MassLive last week that he hoped the team would re-sign himself and shortstop Xander Bogaerts. “That’s great,” Devers said. “I hope it happens like you said — they signed Bogey long-term and then signed me long-term. But I don’t know what’s going to happen. The only thing I know is playing. I don’t know the [contract] numbers or anything like that. Stuff. I’ll leave it to the team and my agent.”
Two-time All-Star Signed with Boston in March signed a one-year, $11.2 million contract. Through arbitration, he is expected to receive another base salary increase in 2023. For now, Bloom is maintaining the club’s hopes of retaining the third baseman long-term, but the key question is if both sides Can’t agree on a long-term deal, whether this position will change.
The Red Sox can’t just watch Devers leave as a free agent after the 2023 season without getting assets in return, So the choice boils down to a deferral or a deal.
Both sides have expressed interest in going the new contract route, but the next few months will show whether this is a realistic outcome.
