All-Star third baseman Rafael Devers has rejected an extension offer from the Boston Red Sox, per MLB insider Hector Gomez.
Devers rejected the offer because “it was lower than he is willing to consider.” The 25-year-old infielder and the Red Soz were described as being “very far off” in their recent negotiations.
Rafael Devers turned down a contract extension from the Red Sox, per @hgomez27 pic.twitter.com/w0wq57Lois
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 6, 2022
SOURCE: The #RedSox offered Rafael Devers a contract extension but the player rejected because it was lower than he is willing to consider. Devers will focus now on his 2022 season looking to further increase his market value.@z101digital @ZDeportes
— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) April 6, 2022
The MLB world took to Twitter to react to this news.
“You love to see it. (Totally smart on Rafs part. No one should get extended more than a year before FA seeing how much contracts go up each year),” one fan wrote.
“He wants the BAG,” another added.
I need to know what those numbers were to see if I agree or disagree with him. https://t.co/DIOwj4Iiiq
— James Murphy (@MurphsCardTown) April 6, 2022
https://t.co/sa6UOzoGsW pic.twitter.com/FNFoQzOhQ2
— Jesse Greer (@TheJesseGreer) April 6, 2022
Devers has indicated that he won’t talk about a longterm extension deal after the 2022 season begins. It’s doubtful that he and the Red Sox will have any further talks before Opening Day later this week, per Gomez.
When discussing his contract situation earlier this week, Devers didn’t seem in too much of a rush to get a deal done.
“We had a conversation with the team,” Devers told Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. “We didn’t get to anything. But I still have one more year. I have this one and the next year. And I’m ready to play with Boston, with the Red Sox. We’re not going to talk about it [more] this spring. Let’s see how this season goes.”
Devers still has two more seasons on his current contract with the Red Sox and is set to earn $11.2 million this coming season. Given his upward trajectory, it seems as though Devers is betting on himself to continue improving ahead of his free agency in 2024.
In 2021, Devers logged one of the best seasons of his young MLB career. Earning his first All-Star selection, the fifth-year big leaguer notched 165 hits, 38 home runs and 113 RBI with a .279/.352/.538 slash line.
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