Xander Bogaerts elite start should force Red Sox’s hand with contract demands

The Boston Red Sox may want to rethink declining Xander Bogaerts salary request.

Prior to the 2022 season, Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts was looking to paid like one of the best shortstops in MLB and now he’s hitting like one.

In his first seventy-six plate appearances of the season Bogaerts is slashing a torrid .397/.421/.534 with a homer and eight RBI.

His hot start has placed Bogaerts in elite company with names like Hank Aaron and Stan Musial as one of only five players to record three hits in seven of his team’s first nineteen games.

Bogaerts is not only hitting for average, but he’s hitting the ball hard, registering both a Max Exit Velocity and HardHit% in the 91st percentile.

Red Sox: Xander Bogaerts’ contract causing friction

Bogaerts still has three seasons after this one left on the six-year, $120 million deal, but the Aruba native has an opt out after the 2022 season, if he so chooses.

Prior to the 2022 season Bogaerts confirmed that the Red Sox did in fact make an offer, but the two sides were unable to come to an agreement. Negotiations will not occur during the season as Bogaerts wishes to focus in season.

While his power has not shown up yet in 2022, the twenty-nine year old has registered an OPS+ of 174, a wRC+ of 181 and a WAR of 0.9 through the Red Sox first 18 games.

Needless to say Boston Red Sox fans are eager to have the club rethink their position with Bogaerts mashing the ball at almost a .400 clip.

Carlos Correa set the market for shortstops

Correa signed a three year, $105,300,00 deal with the Minnesota Twins this off season, resetting the market for top level shortstops with an annual value of almost seventy-five percent higher than Bogaerts current annual pay.

Bogaerts is in the driver’s seat with a fully vested no-trade clause and an opt out clause and the Red Sox brass could be sorry an agreement wasn’t reached prior to the 2022 season.