Red Sox, Devers avoid arbitration on 1-year deal worth reported $17.5M

The Boston Red Sox and third baseman Rafael Devers agreed to a one-year, deal, avoiding arbitration, the team announced Tuesday.

The deal is reportedly worth $17.5 million, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Devers, 26, is in the final year of arbitration before being eligible to hit free agency for the first time next winter. The two sides have reportedly been discussing long-term extensions and this deal does not prevent that from happening in the future, Passan adds.

The deadline for teams and players to submit arbitration salary figures is Jan. 13. After that, hearings in front of an independent arbitrator are scheduled between Jan. 30 - Feb. 17 for players and teams who have not yet agreed on deals. Most parties agree to either one-year deals or multi-year extensions before hearings take place.

Devers was projected to earn $16.9 million, according to MLB Trade Rumors.

The two-time All-Star hit .295/.358/.521 with 27 homers and three steals in 141 games last year. Over six years in the majors since the Red Sox called him up as a 20-year-old, the former Silver Slugger owns an .854 OPS (124 OPS+).

The Red Sox have added Masataka Yoshida, Kenley Jansen, and Corey Kluber this offseason while notably losing Xander Bogaerts to the San Diego Padres on an 11-year, $280-million deal.