Chicago Cubs Rumors: Rafael Devers agrees to extension with Red Sox

The Chicago Cubs' plans for the offseason following the 2023 Major League Baseball regular season may have been derailed on Wednesday as third baseman Rafael Devers has agreed to an 11-year extension with the Boston Red Sox worth $332MM.

Devers, along with Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres and Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels, was scheduled to headline the free-agent class for Major League Baseball next offseason. Given the lack of success that the Red Sox had in trying to reach a contract extension with shortstop Xander Bogaerts, there had been a growing sense that Devers would have a similar fate. There had ever been speculation that the Red Sox, depending on whether or not they would be in contention, would also entertain trading Devers at the trade deadline this upcoming season.

With the extension now in place, Devers now must be crossed off the Cubs' wish list. When shortstop Dansby Swanson spoke about buying into the Cubs' plan to return to winning, many speculated the projection that the Cubs showed Swanson may have included Devers as the team's third baseman in 2024. Having hit 65 home runs over the course of the past two seasons and a collective 137 wRC+, the 26-year-old Devers would have been the perfect signing for the Cubs.

The need for the Cubs to acquire an impact bat remains there. Third base remains the position that the Cubs may target in their search for an impact bat. Given the emergence of Machado's super stardom with the Padres, it would seem San Diego would make re-signing him a priority if he were to opt out of his contract after the season.

If the Cubs look toward the trade route, two names to keep an eye on are Gleyber Torres of the New York Yankees and Javier Baez of the Detroit Tigers. Neither option would seem to be too likely at this juncture for the Cubs but the team could deal from their pitching/outfield prospect depth to entice a team to move one of their established bats.