What would it cost to acquire Rafael Devers from the Red Sox?

It's no secret on every New York Mets fan's Christmas list this year there is a big bat listed on there somewhere, most likely at the top of the list. After the Mets' pursuit of Carlos Correa, it's clear that Owner Steve Cohen and General Manager Billy Eppler are far from finished this winter, as it seems a high-impact bat might be the next move they pursue.

One player who could possibly be a candidate to be traded before Opening Day is Boston Red Sox third baseman, Rafael Devers. While a potential trade of Devers would be an absolutely soul-crushing blow to Red Sox fans after losing players such as Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, and J.D. Martinez.

The Mets could have an enticing trade package available to lure the Red Sox into a Rafael Devers deal this winter

As a matter of fact, I don't believe any return the Red Sox may receive in a potential Devers trade would appease their fanbase at this point, but then again no fanbase is accepting of losing a two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger Award-winning player who recently turned 26 years old. But if there is one team who will be aggressive enough to throw their hat in the ring for a potential Devers trade it will be the Mets.

As of right now, the Red Sox and Devers are far-apart in extension talks as Devers is scheduled to be a free agent after the 2023 season. The Red Sox can ill-afford to lose Devers for nothing after the backlash they have received for letting both Bogaerts and Martinez walk this offseason when they could've dealt each player at last year's trade deadline.

In my hypothetical package that the Mets would put together for Devers, I would have the Mets trading third baseman Brett Baty (Mets #2 rated prospect), right-handed pitcher Blade Tidwell (Mets #8 rated prospect), and left-handed starting pitcher David Peterson.

While the Red Sox aren't going to get "true fair trade value" for an established player of Devers's caliber, any team who acquires Devers is essentially paying for only one year of production with the hopes of locking him up prior to free agency next offseason.

The Mets, who are now spending like drunken sailors, will have the funds to potentially lock Devers up and solidify the left side of their infield for years to come. The Red Sox in return will receive two of the Mets' top-10 prospects and a Major League-ready starting pitcher in David Peterson who pitched to a 3.83 ERA last season which included 19 starts. Baty could also step in for the Red Sox and start at third base on Opening Day as he made his Major League debut last season and has raked at every level of the minors thus far.

While this is just a hypothetical deal and there has been no true outline publicly provided by the Red Sox on what it would cost to acquire Devers, this deal gives the Red Sox two Major League-ready players and a high-upside arm in Tidwell that they can develop over the next two seasons. Of course, in return, the Mets would receive one of the best players at his position in Devers and they would bank on him holding down the hot corner in Queens for the next decade.