Xander Bogaerts has opted out of his contract with the Red Sox to become a free agent, and MLB.com is keeping track of the latest rumors surrounding the shortstop.
Read all about Bogaerts here.
Nov. 25: Bogaerts could find fit in Philly, San Diego
According to a report from MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, while Xander Bogaerts and the Red Sox still appear far apart in their negotiations, the Phillies, who could also be on the hunt for a free agent shortstop this winter, remain a possible fit for the 30-year-old. The Padres, looking to add a strong leadership presence to their clubhouse, have also expressed interest in Bogaerts, despite having Ha-Seong Kim signed through at least 2024 and Fernando Tatis Jr. entering the third year of his 14-year extension.
Per Heyman, Bogaerts is also the current backup plan for the Twins, in the event that Carlos Correa signs elsewhere.
The Red Sox have reportedly made multiple offers to the star shortstop since the end of the season. The four-time All-Star has averaged a 134 wRC+ over the past five seasons, the highest among all shortstops with at least 2,000 plate appearances during that span. Bogaerts also had his best defensive season in 2022 as he accrued a career-high five Outs Above Average.
Nov. 24: Twins targeting Bogaerts as Correa fallback option (report)
The Twins have made it clear that they want Carlos Correa back after he opted out of his contract, and they’ve reportedly already made him multiple offers. But if they are unable to re-sign him, there are several other attractive shortstop options on the free-agent market, including Trea Turner, Dansby Swanson and Bogaerts.
According to LaVelle E. Neal III of the Star Tribune, Minnesota has circled Bogaerts as its No. 2 choice at shortstop behind Correa. Both players are represented by Scott Boras.
There could be a substantial difference in the contracts the two shortstops command on the open market, both in total guaranteed money and average annual value. MLB Trade Rumors recently predicted a nine-year, $288 million deal ($32M AAV) for Correa and a seven-year, $189 million contract ($27M AAV) for Bogaerts.
Joe Mauer holds the record for the largest deal in Twins history at $184 million over eight years.
Nov. 16: Red Sox have made ‘at least two offers’ to Bogaerts (report)
According to a report by the Boston Globe, the Red Sox have made “at least two offers” to Bogaerts since the end of the 2022 regular season — one before he officially opted out of the final three years of his contract with Boston, and a “sweetened” offer since then.
“We’ve been engaged with Xander since the end of this season, and Scott [Boras], his agent, and I’ll leave it at that,” said Red Sox CEO and president Sam Kennedy said on Wednesday. “But we’ve had productive conversations.”
Nov. 12: Phillies have ‘real interest’ in Bogaerts (report)
MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reports that the Phillies are “believed to have real interest” Bogaerts. Heyman adds that Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has a “strong link” to Bogaerts from when he was at the front of the Red Sox’s front office from 2015-19. He signed Bogaerts to a six-year, $120 extension in the spring of 2019; that’s the contract Bogaerts opted out of earlier this week.
The Red Sox have said that getting their star shortstop back under contract is an offseason priority, but Heyman reported recently that Boston has “gotten nowhere” in recent talks with Bogaerts. The Phillies seem to be focusing on the top of the shortstop market and have been considered the most likely landing spot for Trea Turner. Other teams, such as the Mariners and Dodgers, have also been mentioned as possibilities for Bogaerts.
Nov. 10: The latest on Bogaerts-Red Sox talks
The Red Sox’s plan at shortstop is simple: Re-sign Xander Bogaerts, or replace him at shortstop with Trevor Story as they reportedly won’t go shopping for any of the other star shortstops available on the market. Hope remains within the team that it will reunite with the four-time All-Star, but the two sides don’t seem particularly close to an agreement.
If Boston falls out of the picture, Heyman lists the Dodgers as a sensible landing spot for Bogaerts and adds the Cubs as a possibility since they “seem very interested in adding a big piece ….”
Chicago shortstop Nico Hoerner batted .285 with a .763 OPS over the final 80 games of the 2022 season and tied for second among shortstops with 13 outs above average. However, the Cubs hinted in September that Hoerner is willing to move around the diamond if they land a player of Bogaerts’ ilk.
Nov. 9: Will this playoff team make a run at Bogaerts?
The Seattle Mariners currently have J.P. Crawford installed as their long-term solution at shortstop. However, the team has said, according to MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi, that it is open to considering alternatives at that spot for the right player. That’s where Bogaerts comes in.
Morosi said Wednesday that Bogaerts could be a “unique possibility” this winter for Seattle, which has reportedly spoken with Crawford’s representatives about the possibility of him moving to another position to make room for one of the big-name shortstops available.
Nov. 8: Red Sox preparing for life without Bogaerts?
The Red Sox are still hoping to re-sign Bogaerts after their longtime shortstop opted out of his deal on Monday, but if the 30-year-old departs, it’s unlikely Boston will look to replace him with one of the other star free agents on the market.
According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, it seems the team’s backup plan is to move Trevor Story back to shortstop. After signing a six-year, $140 million contract with Boston last March, Story shifted to second base for 2022. He was a shortstop his first six seasons with the Rockies.
With Story potentially changing positions, sources told Feinsand that the Red Sox have been reaching out to teams to inquire about the availability of their second basemen.
Nov. 7: Bogaerts officially opt outs; what’s next?
As expected, Bogaerts has opted out of his contract — which had three years and $60 million left on it — with the Red Sox to become a free agent. Both Boston and Bogaerts have expressed interest in a reunion, but they were reportedly far apart in negotiations during the spring.
According to an April report from MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, the Red Sox offered to tack another year for around $30 million onto Bogaerts’ deal — essentially giving him a four-year deal for roughly $90 million across 2023-26. Heyman speculated at that point that there was a gap of $100 million or more between the two sides.
Bogaerts joins a free agent market that also includes star shortstops Carlos Correa, Trea Turner and Dansby Swanson.
While breaking down the free-agent market in an article for the New York Post last week, Heyman put the Braves, Dodgers, Twins, Cardinals, Phillies and Giants on the list of clubs other than the Red Sox that could have interest in signing Bogaerts.
