Shortstop Xander Bogaerts and third baseman Rafael Devers have been in a holding pattern waiting for new contracts — despite their overwhelming importance to the Boston Red Sox.

One day after Devers turned down an offer for being too low, Boston and Bogaerts reportedly couldn’t agree on a deal before Friday’s season opener in New York.

Bogaerts wanted compensation similar to several of the league’s top shortstops (Carlos Correa, $35.1M/YR; Corey Seager, $32.5M) and rejected an even lower extension this offseason.

• Bogaerts’ five-year, $132M deal from 2019 ranks 48th in MLB by AAV ($20M) — but includes a player opt-out after this season.
• The 25-year-old Devers is playing on an $11.2M salary in his second of three arbitration years.
• Both were crucial to Boston’s World Series win in 2018 and have four All-Star appearances between them.

The offseason acquisition of SS Trevor Story further complicates things: He’s a better fielder than Bogaerts, and his six-year, $140 million contract pushed the Sox over the luxury tax threshold for 2022.

As such, Boston could be looking at a similar situation to that of Mookie Betts, whom the Red Sox notoriously traded to the Dodgers — and who then signed a record $365 million deal.

Two years removed from a Finals appearance, the Heat quietly clinched the first seed in the East for the first time since 2012-13 — when they last won a title.

But unlike that “Heatles” superteam — boasting the offensive prowess of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade — this is a more well-rounded edition predicated on defense. 

Tyler Herro’s 20.8 PPG lead the Heat in scoring — but rank only 25th in the NBA. Meanwhile, Miami leads the league in OPP FGM (37.4), OPP 3PT FG (33.9%), and OPP RPG (41.6) while allowing the second-fewest PPG (105.3). 

Miami’s $140.8 million payroll is just the eighth-highest in the NBA — and executive Pat Riley’s decision to spend the money constructing a defensive powerhouse has paid off perfectly. 

• Bam Adebayo signed for five years, $163M— Miami’s biggest contract ever by total value. Opponents are shooting 32.7% against him.
• Gritty on-ball defender P.J. Tucker joined from the champion Bucks on a two-year, $15M deal. 
• Five-time All-Defensive star Jimmy Butler signed a four-year, $184M extension.

This rock-solid foundation is overseen by Erik Spoelstra, who is the winningest coach in franchise history (659) and has the second-best odds to win his first Coach of the Year award (+700). 

Miami is still a long shot to win it all (+1200) — but this season, in a league obsessed with threes and analytics, the Heat are out to prove that defense still wins championships.

Auston Matthews’ electric season is now part of hockey history.

Matthews’ second-period goal against the Stars on Thursday was his 55th of the campaign, passing Rick Vaive for the most in a single Maple Leafs season. He followed it up with an overtime game-winner for his 56th — the most for an American-born player in NHL history.

The 24-year-old is accomplishing remarkable things on the five-year, $58.2 million deal he signed in 2019.

• Matthews’ contract ranks 45th in the league by total value.
• But his $11.6 million AAV is the highest on the team and third-highest in the league.
• Fellow former No. 1 overall pick Connor McDavid tops the NHL in AAV ($12.5M) and is third in total value ($100M).

Though his contract lacks the years or total value compared to some of his peers, Matthews is setting himself up for a massive payday in 2024 if he hits the open market at 26.

The question, as always in Toronto, is whether his brilliance will translate into a Stanley Cup run. The Leafs’ elite power play could lead the way — the unit converts an astounding 30.2% of chances, tops in the league.

Thanks to Matthews’ prolific scoring, bookmakers are starting to believe: Toronto is tied with Calgary for the third-best odds (+900) to lift the Cup, trailing Colorado (+350) and Florida (+550).