1. Do I think that in 2030 we're going to be grateful that the Dodgers took this contract off our hands for half the salary? Yes. Perhaps.
2. Do I care right now? Hell no.
2. Do I care right now? Hell no.
Red Sox extend Devers—11 years, $332 million
- Thread starter RedOctober3829
- Start date
I’ll save deeper thoughts on the future for another thread, but I think Bloom still needs to add another high impact bat or two. The offensive core is still very small (Devers… Story?… someone else?). Maybe Cassas will be the third, but we still have too many mediocre bats for my liking.
Agree! But they are much closer now and can be thinking in different windows. Don't need to worry about who will play 3b too after this year. That's a huge one off the to-do list. Now you *know* that anyone you get for SS or OF bat is someone you're packing in around Devers.
SHOCKED. After Lynn Fisk and Burleson, I was done....ooops sorry Xander and Mookie and Devers. Oooops.
Sometimes you just have to do the right thing, Boston is NOT Pittsburg, or Kansas City, nor Tampa, but were imo perilously close to being perceived in that light.
Sometimes you just have to do the right thing, Boston is NOT Pittsburg, or Kansas City, nor Tampa, but were imo perilously close to being perceived in that light.
More than I thought the team would (or even should) pay. But given where this off-season went, a 10+ year deal always seemed like a distinct possibility.
There were/are lots of other Bloom/ownership haters/naysayers on here from whom we have yet to hear, though…!
There were/are lots of other Bloom/ownership haters/naysayers on here from whom we have yet to hear, though…!
This is very good news...a happy Raffy is a productive one too.
I hope this leads to some additional moves to assure they can be competitive this year.
I hope this leads to some additional moves to assure they can be competitive this year.
Love that he will be in place for a long time, especially with the no opt-outs. I've got my first little one due in the next week or two, and I love knowing that she can still be rooting for Devers when she's 11.
I'm glad Raffy will be around.
He's still young at age 26 next year, so they're hoping for him to continue to improve as a hitter.
He's nowhere near prime-Ortiz territory as a hitter. But he has a chance to be.
He's still young at age 26 next year, so they're hoping for him to continue to improve as a hitter.
He's nowhere near prime-Ortiz territory as a hitter. But he has a chance to be.
Happy they signed Devers. Seemed like Devers had more leverage than he used. But good for Red Sox.
I approve of this contract.
You want more?. Well, I hope Raffy speaks English when he is introduced to the media.
You want more?. Well, I hope Raffy speaks English when he is introduced to the media.
Phenomenal news. They went into the off-season with the stated desire to sign Raffy and they did. They went into the off-season with the stated desire to sign Xander and they did not. They screwed up with Xander but it had zero to do with their motivation to sign Raffy. This signing was part of Bloom’s plan and they got it done. John Henry has always spent money on this team and this signing fits right in with that history.
This is great news. Now that his future is secure, I hope he takes care of himself; I'd hate to see him show up for spring training weighing 300 pounds.
331, as a tribute.
Congrats to all of you! I always say that with big FAs, you're generally either screwed short-term if they leave or longer-term if they stay, but BOS needed to keep him under the circumstances and they did, so congrats.
And thanks! Bogaerts had very little shot of it but the likelihood of Devers ending up in pinstripes was well above zero. But I'm sure you'll be plenty happy with Machado331, as a tribute.
Congrats to all of you! I always say that with big FAs, you're generally either screwed short-term if they leave or longer-term if they stay, but BOS needed to keep him under the circumstances and they did, so congrats.
And some impacts on not-shifting seem right up Bloom's analysis alley.
In the end, I dont think Bogaerts had much to do with this. The only thing they have in common is that they were important players beloved by fans. But in terms of future performance and age-curve, Bogaerts was, appropriately , IMO, the one where they stuck to *their* value/price, and Devers was the one where they said, "what will this take." Werner is a wildcard, but John Henry strikes me as the most emotionless analytical ghoul of any owner in any major sport. He may blow away in a breeze, but I just dont get the sense that he reacts to the public sentiment winds.
Who gives a shit. He's paid to be on the field, not speak to you directly in the only language you know.
No-trade and opt-outs both definitely add significant value to the player side of the ledger. In exchange for a near FA market deal a year early, at least Chaim was able to get those out of the picture. Strong work there.
If in 2 years this allows the FO to package Mayer, Casas and/or prospect X to get out of a Raffy albatross and save the owners a bunch of money…. I reserve the right to take back my praise.
If in 2 years this allows the FO to package Mayer, Casas and/or prospect X to get out of a Raffy albatross and save the owners a bunch of money…. I reserve the right to take back my praise.
View: https://twitter.com/ChrisCotillo/status/1610798248574464000
Cotillo seems to think the Sox have the option at this point of how they want the deal to count against the tax. If so keeping it at 17 this year seems like a no brainer unless they have some other big move in mind we don't know about yet.
Cotillo seems to think the Sox have the option at this point of how they want the deal to count against the tax. If so keeping it at 17 this year seems like a no brainer unless they have some other big move in mind we don't know about yet.
Market forced the FO’s hands. A year ago I’m sure it could have been done for $250-280m. Expensive lesson but hopefully it’s learnt.
Can we have Bello’s and Casas’ extensions this off-season as well? There is still room under the tax to get this done.
Can we have Bello’s and Casas’ extensions this off-season as well? There is still room under the tax to get this done.
I agree with this so very much. Financial flexibility is good - but when you have a core locked up is when I think it’s the most valuable. I’m sure analytics and match ups will determine where guys hit in the order, but for “semantics” this locks up our middle of the line up for the next 5 seasons in Story and Devers, with a RHB and LHB to construct the rest of the line up around.
Yoshida, Story, Devers, RHB DH, Casas is so much better for the 2024-27 than Yoshida, Story, ?, ?, Casas for planning purposes.
Obviously, I‘m thrilled this is sewn up. Great work Bloom.
I think we’re at least one year away from those. If they put up solid seasons, you could see the Sox going the Braves route.
Not yet and he probably will never be that guy. But you’re right, he does have a chance. Let’s not forget David Ortiz didn’t start playing for the Red Sox until he was 27. Think about that.
I don't think Bogaerts had anything to do with it. Raffy is somewhat rare these days because he'd be a FA at 27, and that made him the obvious target. The fact that he was willing to sign a deal one year prior to free agency that goes through his 36yo season with no opt outs made it a no-brainer.
Don't remember the last time I was this excited over a Red Sox move. Signed through all of his prime years with no opt outs so don't have to deal with the same situation in a couple years. Deal also doesn't run through his age 40 season like some other recent contracts given out. And, for me at least, restores some faith in the future of the club. Love it.
David Ortiz had five seasons with an ops over 1.000. He had 10 seasons with an ops over .900. He had 7 seasons with an ops+ over 150, and 11 seasons with an ops+ over 140.
Rafael Devers has had zero seasons with an ops over 1.000. He has had 1 season with an ops over .900. He has had 0 seasons with an ops+ over 150, and 1 season with an ops+ over 140.
If Devers even comes CLOSE to what David Ortiz did with the bat, we would all be THRILLED.
Now that being said, there are actual signs that it MIGHT be possible.
(1) Ortiz had 5 seasons with 300+ total bases and 12 seasons with 250+ total bases. Devers has already has had 2 seasons with 300+ total bases and 3 seasons with 250+ total bases.
(2) Ortiz hit 17 homers and had a .947 ops in the postseason in 85 games. Devers has hit 8 hr and has a .955 ops in just 26 games in the postseason.
Devers has a chance to be really, really good. Probably not David Ortiz good, but it's possible.
Rafael Devers has had zero seasons with an ops over 1.000. He has had 1 season with an ops over .900. He has had 0 seasons with an ops+ over 150, and 1 season with an ops+ over 140.
If Devers even comes CLOSE to what David Ortiz did with the bat, we would all be THRILLED.
Now that being said, there are actual signs that it MIGHT be possible.
(1) Ortiz had 5 seasons with 300+ total bases and 12 seasons with 250+ total bases. Devers has already has had 2 seasons with 300+ total bases and 3 seasons with 250+ total bases.
(2) Ortiz hit 17 homers and had a .947 ops in the postseason in 85 games. Devers has hit 8 hr and has a .955 ops in just 26 games in the postseason.
Devers has a chance to be really, really good. Probably not David Ortiz good, but it's possible.
The Braves gave Harris a deal midway through his first season. Rays also gave Franco one after 70 games. There’s precedent there for early deals.
My two cents, I would only give a megadeal to a guy who is going to give you a consistent 4-6 WAR for the first 6 or so years and who either plays a premium position or plays his position very well. Devers does not play a premium position nor is he a wizard at third, and he's not a lock to hit enough to make up for it in my book.
It's fine because it's just one contract, and he should be all-star level for the first 5 years. But I don't see why you sign this guy to this deal and not Mookie or Bogaerts unless you just totally misread their markets. Or, save the tax space for upcoming stars you're hoping to sign who are better.
This is market rate and it could give them headaches in the second half of it if things go right with the farm and you have stars elsewhere that need to be paid and Devers is declining. Yes he can move to DH but anyone can move to DH, you only do that if you can't play the more valuable positions.
It seems like it's a move responding to the bad press which isn't how I want them to run the team. At least he's already here so we know he can play in Fenway, but I'm giving this a C+. Would they have made this deal if they hadn't lost Bogaerts? They'll never tell you but I wonder.
It's fine because it's just one contract, and he should be all-star level for the first 5 years. But I don't see why you sign this guy to this deal and not Mookie or Bogaerts unless you just totally misread their markets. Or, save the tax space for upcoming stars you're hoping to sign who are better.
This is market rate and it could give them headaches in the second half of it if things go right with the farm and you have stars elsewhere that need to be paid and Devers is declining. Yes he can move to DH but anyone can move to DH, you only do that if you can't play the more valuable positions.
It seems like it's a move responding to the bad press which isn't how I want them to run the team. At least he's already here so we know he can play in Fenway, but I'm giving this a C+. Would they have made this deal if they hadn't lost Bogaerts? They'll never tell you but I wonder.
Sorry, but one contract extension is not a "plan," it's just something that makes people happy.
Did you ever stop to think that the Red Sox hired Bloom because they wanted to? Bloom doesn't control the purse strings, ownership does, so calling him a "cheapo" is disingenuous, at best.
Might want to get that sarcasm meter checked.
Edit to add content:
I've gotten more excited about this over the last couple hours. I don't think I realized how draining it was for me to watch Xander down the stretch knowing he wasn't going to be coming back (and I am among those who think the team made the right call on him). Knowing I will get to watch a homegrown superstar stick through his prime and beyond for the Red Sox is awesome, and makes me really happy. The fact that is a guy who actually has potential to get better?? Pinch me.
Mookie is a different situation -- I don't think the Sox could have given this deal until the salaries for Price/Eovaldi/JDM came off the books. That gave the team enough breathing space for one megadeal. (But probably not two)
And if they don't get Ohtani the 2025 free agent class is ridiculous in terms of talent with potentially 5+ Aces available and tons of positional talent available too.
On what basis are you cutting off his playing at a high level at 5 years?
I would’ve been pretty upset if they let him walk in the hopes they could convince Ohtani or another player fitting your criteria to sign here. I don’t understand why signing Devers precludes signing a player like Ohtani anyways, or why the decision to trade Mookie impacts the decision to extend Devers, which was the decision actually in front of them now. We all wish Mookie was still here, luxury tax implications at the time be damned, but he isn’t and we can’t go back.
I completely agree with you that Devers will most likely never be as good as Ortiz. However, Ortiz didn't have any of those seasons until his first year with Boston, his age 27 season. Devers just completed his age 25 season. Interestingly Ortiz had 6 seasons under his belt when he came here, Raffy just finished his 6th. It can't be an apples to apples comparison, since Ortiz had 1668 PAs(year 1 and 3 totaling only 76), over that time to Devers 2958. So while Devers has had much more opportunity, he still owns the 3 highest OPS+ seasons during each of their initial 6 years. Again, I agree with you overall point, but I think the OPS+ comparisons are a little premature
There's time. Through age 25:
Devers: 2958 PA, .283/.342/.512, .358 wOBA, 123 wRC+
Ortiz: 1176 PA: .261/.351/.446, .345 wOBA, 101 wRC+
They'll be easier to compare going forward with the shift ban. I don't think Devers will ever reach the level of Papi's plate discipline, especially during this era of pitching advancements, but I think Devers is probably more consistently a .300 hitter than he has been.