The final Xander sit-down of 2022
The players milled about the Red Sox clubhouse, seemingly in no rush leave what had landed as a 78-win season. They sat. They talked. They breathed.
Out of nowhere, the future so many had talked about throughout the 162 games was now the present. In real-time, we were witnessing the page being turned.
Case in point: Rafael Devers.
"You said you didn't want talk contract during the season. Are you ready to now?"
"Tomorrow." It's what Devers immediately responded in English when asked the question before reverting back to Spanish.
"We will start tomorrow and see what’s going to happen," he continued through translator Carlos Villoria. "Today I’m going to relax and take it all in and we’ll see this offseason how it goes."
Well, "tomorrow" is upon us. The existences of more than a few milling about in that clubhouse early Wednesday evening has immediately changed.
A few hours before the game, Xander Bogaerts reiterated to the Bradfo Sho podcast the uncomfortable narratives that have existed all the way through the shortstop tipping his hat to the ground upon exiting Wednesday's Sox win.
Question: "Have they approached you about a contract during the season?"
Answer: "No."
Question: "Are you upset they didn't?"
Answer: "Oooh ... I wouldn't have minded."
Question: "If I told you at the beginning of the season you would be sitting here without any talks would that have surprised you?"
Answer: "I'm not surprised."
All of that is about to change. Devers is headed home to the Dominican Republic. Bogaerts said he is rushing back to the beaches of Aruba. Now they wait. And it's not just them.
J.D. Martinez did his best to change the narrative when it came to potentially securing a qualifying offer, making good on the assertion he relayed to the Bradfo Sho Tuesday when it was revealed a swing-fix had been found. Sure enough, Martinez went out with a two-home run game.
"There’s always a pathway. That’s a Chaim question. Famous line, you know," Martinez said. "That’s a Chaim question. You have to go ask him. There’s always a path. Right now, I’m a free agent. We’ll see where life takes me."
Nathan Eovaldi. Rich Hill. Michael Wacha. Matt Strahm. They were also soaking in what might be some sort of punctuation.
The 2022 Red Sox season was a roller coaster that ultimately fell off a cliff. Now comes the next ride. Buckle up. The highly-anticipated offseason is upon us.