The Red Sox’ contract impasse with Rafael Devers hasn’t yet reached the dire stages the team’s stalemate with Xander Bogaerts appears to have. After all, the star Sox third baseman still has another year left on his deal before he hits free agency.
But the fact remains that Devers and the Sox reportedly aren’t close on an extension to keep him in town for the long haul, leading ESPN baseball insider Jeff Passan to draw a parallel no Red Sox fan wants to hear.
After reporting on “Sunday Night Baseball” that the Red Sox and Devers are facing a “significant chasm” in negotiations, being apart by up to $100 million, Passan gave WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” some additional details on Devers’s asking price and likened the slow contract talks to those of departed Boston star Mookie Betts.