Xander Bogaerts has NOT severed ties with Boston Red Sox front office: Sources

An earlier report on Xander Bogaerts and the Boston Red Sox is incorrect.

Earlier Wednesday, a report surfaced that free-agent star Xander Bogaerts had “severed ties” with the Red Sox’s front office and would not return to Boston. That is not accurate, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

When asked about the report, Red Sox president and CEO Sam Kennedy said: “I don’t have that impression but all we can go by is our desire to bring him back.”

Has Bogaerts told the Red Sox that he’s done talking?

“Nope,” Kennedy said.

Xander Bogaerts still willing to negotiate with Boston Red Sox

Bogaerts, 30, is among the elite free-agent shortstops, a class that features Trea Turner, Carlos Correa and Dansby Swanson. He has had previous talks with the Red Sox about a new contract, with the team offering in April to add an additional one year and about $30 million to his original six-year, $120 million contract.

Bogaerts and his agent, Scott Boras, both scoffed at the proposal and appeared headed for free agency. Now a free agent, Boras has talked to numerous teams about Bogaerts — the Padres, Phillies, Cubs, among others — in an attempt to establish his value on the open market.

But a return to Boston has, and remains, a possibly for Bogaerts. There have been teams that have asked whether the veteran shortstop would be willing to play other infield positions, as first reported by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, but Boras shot down that possibility. “Xander is playing shortstop,” he said.

Perhaps the Winter Meetings provide additional clarity for Bogaerts. Talks throughout the league have ramped up and the four-day period where teams and agents gather to negotiate is expected to be very active, league and team sources say. But a Bogaerts deal may have to wait until Turner and Correa come off the board.