AP source: Devers avoids arbit...

BRISTOL, Mass. (AP) – The Boston Red Sox and two-time All-Star Rafael Devers have agreed to a one-year deal, avoiding salary arbitration. According to a person with knowledge of the arrangement who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the team did not reveal the specifics of the pact, the deal is for $17.5 million. The 26-year-old third baseman, who earned $11.2 million last season, will stay on the Red Sox's roster for at least one season before hitting the open free-agent market. After All-Star shortstop Xander Bogaerts, slugger J.D. Martinez, and pitcher Nathan Eovaldi all left in free agency, Boston will retain one of its main players from last season. The Red Sox made the greatest offseason splash by signing Japanese star Masataka Yoshida to a five-year, $90 million contract. Christian Arroyo, Ryan Brasier, Reese McGuire, Nick Pivetta, Josh Taylor, and Alex Verdugo are the six remaining unsigned Red Sox players eligible for arbitration. In the 2021 and 2022 All-Star games, Devers was the American League's starting third baseman. He batted in 141 games last season. 295 total bases, 42 doubles, 27 home runs, and 88 RBI. The Red Sox are attempting to rebound from a disastrous 2022 season in which they went 78-84 and finished last in the AL East a year after winning 92 games, earning a wild-card playoff berth, and reaching the ALCS.