Red Sox already in play for big-name Xander Bogaerts replacement

If the Boston Red Sox are to lose shortstop Xander Bogearts in free agency, they seem to have a replacement in mind.

Some of the Boston Red Sox faithful have dreaded the Hot Stove season, because there was a pretty strong possibility that they could lose starting shortstop Xander Bogaerts to free agency. Ahead of this past season, negotiations between both parties were unsuccessful, and Bogaerts was set to be one of the top shortstops available this offseason.

There was a glimmer of hope on Wednesday, the final day of the MLB Winter Meetings in San Diego, as MLB Network insider Jon Heyman tweeted that the Red Sox and Bogaerts were in “heavy negotiations.” But later on, Heyman said there were five other teams in talks with Bogaerts, including the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres.

The Red Sox appear to have a backup plan in place if they are to lose Bogaerts.

MLB.com Atlanta Braves beat writer Mark Bowman says that Boston is among four teams who have “shown the most interest” in Dansby Swanson.

Red Sox among teams with ‘most interest’ in Dansby Swanson

That would certainly be quite the pivot move for Boston if they were to watch Bogaerts sign with a new team. But as you can see, there are plenty of teams in need of shortstops as well, like the Cubs, Minnesota Twins, and St. Louis Cardinals. Regardless, it’s going to be a bidding war for Bogaerts, Swanson, and Carlos Correa.

Swanson had a career year with the Atlanta Braves. Playing in all 162 regular-season games, he recorded a .277 batting average, .329 on-base percentage, a .447 slugging percentage, 25 home runs, 96 RBI, and 177 hits. He won the first Gold Glove of his career, and made it to the All-Star Game.

A Bogaerts return in Boston isn’t guaranteed, but it appears the organization is ready to make a move for another one of the top shortstops available this winter in Swanson. We’ll see how this plays out.