Boston Red Sox: An offer Xander Bogaerts can’t refuse

As the Boston Red Sox and Xander Bogaerts continue to work out a deal, a speculative contract could keep him in Boston: $32 million per year for 5 years.

When Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts hit a home run in the eighth inning, he’d already heard the chants: Re-Sign Xander.

It only served to solidify his case for the contract he wants. The people clearly want him, so the question is whether or not Boston wants him as badly.

Although Xander and the Red Sox were unable to reach a deal before the start of the 2022 MLB season, it seems that the door is back open to negotiate with Bogaerts and his agent. On Sunday, Bogaerts told Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe that the Sox could propose something that is fair.

“I don’t know how this would work. But if they talk to Scott (Boras) behind closed doors and it’s something that’s fair, he can come to me,” Bogaerts said. “We’ll see how that goes.”

While “fair” is relative, the Sox could offer $32 million per year for 5 years — that’s $160 million total — which would be well above the $20 million per year he’s making on his current extension.

According to Scott Boras, it looks as if Bogaerts is determined to drive up the price this season, whether that’s for the Red Sox or for another potential team.

The Red Sox could offer Xander Bogaerts the ideal deal

Although it didn’t exactly work out with Freddie Freeman in Atlanta, Freeman does provide a blueprint for how much a “championship-proven player” could reasonably command from an organization.

Freeman is actually earning $27 million per year over six years, which comes out to $162 million, a little over the potential contract that Bogaerts could sign.

Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors offered a little more context on the situation Bogaerts is in:

"“Bogaerts is already under contract via a prior six-year, $120MM extension signed in April 2019.  The shortstop can opt out of that deal after the season, leaving behind the $60MM he is guaranteed between 2023-25 plus a $20MM vesting option for 2026.  There is little doubt that Bogaerts will indeed opt out and hit the open market, as entering his age-30 season, the three-time All-Star could triple the $60MM he’d be leaving on the table in Boston given how this past offseason raised the bar for shortstop contracts.”"

With the recent tweet coming out of the Bogaerts’ camp, it looks like the stunning shortstop is determined to keep driving homers and drive up his price as he makes the case to get paid handsomely.