Rafael Devers calls on Red Sox to bring back Xander Bogaerts

The Boston Red Sox have been in the hot seat all season for not extending Xander Bogaerts, and Rafael Devers has made his stance very clear.

Disappointing is a massive understatement to describe the 2022 Boston Red Sox. They didn’t start the season off well when they failed to secure Xander Bogaerts’ future in Boston and instead signed Trevor Story and toyed with the idea of moving Bogaerts to second base, and now Bogaerts is officially a free agent.

Bogaerts has an evident special bond with teammate Rafael Devers, and Devers has expressed that he hopes they both get signed in Boston.

While many question what an extension would look like for Bogaerts as he’s officially into his 30s and players tend to naturally lose talent as they age, it’s important to remember what he’s done for the franchise and what he continued to do in 2022.

The Red Sox had quite an embarrassing season. They finished dead last in the AL East standings as the only team below .500. So many issues were evident, and it was far too easy for fans to lose hope.

Amidst the lost hope was Bogaerts providing a sliver of potential. He’s one of the very few components of the 2022 season that contributed to any limited success.

Devers speaks for many when he says he hopes they both stay in Boston.

Xander Bogaerts was one of the few successful parts of the 2022 Red Sox

Bogaerts was one of the best shortstops in the league this season, so there’s no surprise that he was one of the best players in Boston as well. Among all regular starters in Boston, he led the team in batting average (.307), hits (171), walks (57) and on-base percentage (.377). He fell second to Devers in slugging percentage and OPS, and the two tied for most runs (84).

Among all shortstops who regularly started in the league, Bogaerts led with best batting average and OBP, and he had the fifth-best slugging percentage and fourth-best WAR (6.1).

He was also the only player in Boston to be nominated for a Gold Glove this season, which he ended up winning. He and Devers were the only two Red Sox players to be considered for a Silver Slugger, which Bogaerts won as well.

Sure, there’s the possibility that he’ll lose talent over time due to age, but he’s given so much proof that he’s not losing steam quite yet. He’s one of the best shortstops in the league, and some stars do continue to do well despite age.

Freddie Freeman is a perfect example of a player who can continue to produce great results. The 33-year-old Freeman had a great season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, well along the lines of his successful past, slashing .325/.407/.511 for an OPS of .918. Bogaerts could realistically continue down the same path he has been for years with the Red Sox, and they need someone like him around.

He’s a home-grown talent that Boston just doesn’t prioritize, unfortunately. The same mistakes have been made several times in the past, one of the most recent being with Mookie Betts. However, Bogaerts has made a clear case for himself through his ability and achievements, and he deserves to be paid.

Devers’ word should be meaningful too, considering he was another factor toward success. If Devers’ word wasn’t convincing enough, Hall of Famer David Ortiz also spoke out on the matter, saying the Red Sox need to keep Bogaerts around.

When some of the most notable players in the franchise speak out fighting for players to be signed, it should be taken seriously.