Red Sox rumors: 3 biggest trade deadline mistakes

3. All but sealing Xander Bogaerts’ fate in Boston

The Christian Vázquez trade all but sealed the fate of Xander Bogaerts and his future with the Red Sox. He criticized the Red Sox front office after that deal and for, essentially, playing both sides of the coin.

“The one for Vázqy, I mean, if you ask me, yeah,” Bogaerts told the media, including The Boston Globe. “No one saw that coming. You obviously saw a lot of stuff coming out, but it doesn’t kick in until it really happens. And, obviously, Diekman going to the White Sox, so that was two pieces going out and nothing coming in. So the first move was going out, then (the next move was) coming in.”

Bogaerts can opt out of the remainder of his contract (three years, $60 million plus a vesting option for a fourth year and another $20 million) after this season ends.

He already had said that he planned on opting out but hoped to stay with the Red Sox on a new deal. Now, things have may have changed and he may look to play somewhere else. If that happens, the Red Sox will look back on this trade deadline as the time that doomed their chances to re-sign him.