The Boston Red Sox resolved a notable dilemma earlier in the week, as chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom avoided arbitration with third baseman Rafael Devers after the two sides agreed to an $11.2 million deal for the 2022 season.
For Devers, as he told WEEI, the entire matter was a complicated one.
“It was tough, obviously, having to go back and forth about what my worth was because we have other guys they were saying, ‘This is what they are slotted at.’ But I was like, ‘That’s not me. I’m a different player and I know the type of player that I am,'” Devers said.
As it stands, Devers is under team control for one more season, as the two sides are slated to once again aim to avoid arbitration next year before the start of the 2023 campaign.
Devers is open to engaging in contract extension talks with the Red Sox, but once the season starts, his attention will center on the campaign.
“During spring training, of course, if they want to have those conversations I’m open to it,” Devers said. “But once the season starts, I just want to focus on the season.
“We all want to make a lot more money because of the performance and what we do for the team. That’s something that may be hard at first, but you know you’re worth and I know my worth. What it comes down to is I know the type of money I should be making, so that’s what I’m focused on.
“I’m not focused on what other guys are making or what they are doing. I’m more focused on what I’m doing on the field and what I’m worth.”
The Red Sox now boast one of the more formidable infields in baseball today with Devers, Trevor Story, and Xander Bogaerts in the fold. Bloom noted earlier this week that even as Devers is under team control for one more season and Bogaerts will have the opportunity to opt out of his contract after the 2022 campaign, he would like to keep the trio together for a “long time.”
For now, much focus within the team sure is set on what may end up being a hectic AL East title race this season.
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