How does the Rafael Devers extension affect the Miami Marlins?

Neil Raymond

Rafael Devers / Winslow Townson/GettyImages

Rafael Devers is no longer hitting free agency after next season. He is signing a massive 11 year/$331 million extension with the Boston Red Sox. Sadly, he was never going to be an option for the Miami Marlins next off-season, considering Bruce Sherman doesn't seem to want to spend on the top free agents. Trade talks between The Fish and Boston seem to have cooled down lately, so it appears that Boston do want to keep their core together after all. How does this affect the Miami Marlins going forward?

The Miami Marlins no longer have to worry about Rafael Devers in the NL East.

Rafael Devers was a top prospect who blossomed early on with Boston. He debuted as Boston's third baseman in 2017 and batted .284/.338/.482 with 10 home runs and 30 RBI in 58 games and 222 AB. He followed that up in Boston's 2018 World Series winning season with a .240/.298/.433 batting line with 21 home runs and 66 RBI in 121 games and 450 AB. In 2019, he batted .311/.361/.555 with 32 home runs and 115 RBI in 156 games and 647 AB. This was a big season for Devers as you can see and he even received AL MVP consideration.

In the shortened 2020 season, Devers batted .263/.310/.483 with 11 home runs and 43 RBI in 57 games and 232 AB. In 2021, he batted .279/.352/.538 with 38 home runs and 113 RBI in 156 games and 591 AB. That production earned him MVP consideration as well. In 2022, he received more MVP consideration for batting .295/.358/.521 with 27 home runs and 88 RBI in 141 games and 555 AB.

There were concerns with Rafael Devers defensively at third base, and there was talk of him being a better fit at first base long-term. I suspect that to be a big reason for why an extension took so long to work out. He also improved there in 2022, which must have played a big part as well. Devers staying with Boston means that Steve Cohen won't be able to bring him to the NL East and drastically improve the New York Mets' aging lineup. The latter is a good thing for the Miami Marlins.

Neil Raymond

Neil Raymond has been a lifelong Miami Marlins fan, with the 2003 playoff run being one of his favorite childhood memories. Neil has been called a "walking encyclopedia" for his knowledge of MLB statistics and the sport's history. He follows every game and actually invented his own statistic for player value on his side project BaseballAnalyzed.com. Writing for Fansided's Marlin Maniac since 2022, he also loves Fantasy Baseball and as such is an FSWA member. Neil also loves to travel, read and follow "Futbol" teams: Germany, Argentina, Greece, Inter Miami, Bayern Munich and NYC FC.