The off-season is still months away, but the future of shortstop Xander Bogaerts is already a hot topic surrounding the Red Sox. Bogaerts can opt out of his contract at the end of the season and -- barring a surprise -- will do so and hit free agency.
It appears some around Bogaerts think his time in Boston is done. In fact, in a recent Jon Heyman column in the New York Post, one of Bogaerts’ friends predicted that he would be leaving the Red Sox at the end of the season.
“It was reported here the Red Sox offered only to add one year at $30 million, which even fans and local media found insulting,” Heyman wrote. “The Red Sox have an obvious replacement in Trevor Story, and some wonder whether that’s why they made Bogaerts the sub-nine-figure total offer (GM Chaim Bloom insisted they do want Bogaerts back, and Story’s off to a slow start). Bogaerts stayed for a hometown discount last time but won’t do that twice. “He’s going to leave,” one friend predicted of the Red Sox star.”
Of course, lots of things can change between now and early November, when Bogaerts has to decide whether or not to opt out, so any proclamation this early can be taken with a grain of salt. But Heyman is clearly plugged in around the league and was the one who reported in April that the Red Sox had offered Bogaerts a below-market extension (four years and $90 million beyond 2022) during spring training. While MassLive has been unable to independently confirm that report, it’s notable that the Red Sox have never denied it -- and no reports to the contrary have surfaced.
It’s clear the relationship between Bogaerts and the Red Sox -- which once bordered on perfect -- has soured in recent weeks and months as the sides have been unable to find common ground on a long-term deal. If he does opt out, he will be due a significant raise from the $20 million he’s making this year and could make something in the $30-35 million range on an annual basis. Bogaerts’ hot start (he’s hitting .354 with a .904 OPS in 25 games this season) will only increase his value.
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