A day after agreeing to a $17.5 million contract in his senior year to avoid arbitration, star third baseman Rafael Devers is working to finalize an 11-year, $331 million extension. Boston Red Sox.
The deal was first announced by former Puerto Rican major leaguer Carlos Perca. The deal is not yet official as Devers must be examined by team doctors.
According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the contract will begin next season with a $20 million signing bonus.
Devers’ contract would be the sixth largest in major league history by total value. It earns $30.9 per year.
Devers, 26, made $11.2 million last season and this week completed a $17.5 million contract in his final year of arbitration eligibility before entering free agency in 2024.
Boston will be a key player for the franchise after shortstop Xander Bogaerts, slugger JD Martinez and pitcher Nathan Eovaldi left in free agency.
Devers, who helped Borigua manager Alex Cora and the Red Sox win the World Series in 2018, was the AL’s starting third baseman in the 2021 and 2022 All-Star Game. In 141 games last season, he had a .295 batting average, 42 doubles, 27 home runs, and 88 RBI.