Should the Boston Red Sox admit failure and trade Xander Bogaerts?

Could the Boston Red Sox actually end up trading Xander Bogaerts before the Aug. 31 trade deadline? 

The entire city of Boston would crumble in heartbreak if the Red Sox make another trade that sends away a fan favorite. We all saw what happened when Mookie Betts was traded to the LA Dodgers and signed a 12-year extension soon after making his way out west.

Now, could Xander Bogaerts be the next player to make his exit? Leading up to the Aug. 31 Major League Baseball trade deadline, team president Sam Kennedy said no one is ‘untouchable’ when it comes to a potential trade.

The thought of that list including Bogaerts seemed silly, but MLB insider Ken Rosenthal has come out and said Boston would be wise to consider working a deal involving the standout shortstop. Prepare yourselves for potentially more sadness, Sox fans.

Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts has a clause in his contract that would allow him to opt out after the 2022 season

While it may seem unlikely or foolish for Boston to trade Bogaerts, Rosenthal noted in his latest piece that the shortstop has things set up in his contract that could open the door for him to leave not too far down the road.

“His deal allows him to opt out after ’22, an option he very well might pursue, considering that 2021-22 free agents Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, Javier Báez and Trevor Story already would have reset the market for shortstops,” Rosenthal wrote.

Bogaerts is coming off an outstanding 2019 campaign. Last season, the All-Star hit .309 with 33 home runs and 117 RBI. Thus far in 2020, he’s hitting .257 with four homers and 11 RBI.

Boston thinks he’s a major piece of their future, but they also understand he could end up deciding to head elsewhere after ’22 comes to a close. With the trade deadline around the corner, all eyes will be on Boston to see if they make another earth-shattering move.