Former Boston Red Sox star Xander Bogaerts said goodbye to fans in a social media post after signing with the San Diego Padres.
Xander Bogaerts and Boston were never all that close on a contract extension, and the star shortstop eventually signed with the San Diego Padres for a deal that shattered all of our expectations. Bogaerts received an 11-year commitment worth an astonishing $280 million.
The highest contract offer he received from the Red Sox wasnāt even in that same ballpark, leaving Chaim Bloom shocked and in distress at Bogaerts departure. Bloom is left to pick up the pieces in Boston, which has already hit a few hiccups. As for Xander, he wished Red Sox fans the best in a social media post on Monday morning.
Xander Bogaerts wishes Red Sox fans well
Whatās most frustrating about the Red Sox failure to sign Xander Bogaerts is that it couldāve been avoided years ago. Boston and Scott Boras had been discussing an extension for Bogaerts even earlier than last spring training, but Bloom did not make Xander a priority until the winter meetings.
Bostonās last known offer to Bogaerts was reportedly a
than what the Padres gave him, but not the same contract length.
With Rafael Devers contract extension decision looming, the star third basemanās camp sees the inability to sign Bogaerts as a sign of whatās to come. Devers and the Red Sox remain āgalaxies apart,ā per Joon Lee of ESPN.
This report was released just hours after Ken Rosenthal roasted the Red Sox ownership group for their lackluster offseason thus far, and their inability to spend money like the big-market team most expect them to be:
āBack on Sept. 1, I wrote, āFor Sox ownership and chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom, the coming offseason looms as a turning point, if not a breaking point.ā The offseason is still turning. But try to convince anyone who follows this team the Sox arenāt broken,ā Rosenthal wrote (subscription required).
The Red Sox are broken. Now, who is going to pick up the pieces?