Red Sox Spring Training: Bogaerts is ready to make a deal

With the Red Sox recently kicking off Spring Training, superstar shortstop Xander Bogaerts has expressed interest in a new deal before he hits free agency.

With free agency looming in the not so far away distance, Xander Bogaerts will be playing for his future in 2019. If he has a similar season to that of 2018, he’ll also be looking at what could be a major payday. It’s just a matter of will that be with the Red Sox or another team through free agency.

During media time at the Red Sox Fenway South venue in Fort Myers, Bogey expressed his interest in staying with Boston. The young star could be poised to make a fortune if he goes to the free agent market, and nobody would blame him for testing the waters. But with a weird free agency market this winter, the shortstop has talked about possibly avoiding it altogether.

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"“You obviously have to think about that,” Bogaerts said. “We’re all baseball players. We all want to do well and take care of our families in the future. Those are some big names, man. Those are some big names that came into this year with everyone expecting them to get all this money. They were two of the main free agents and they’re still out there. You just don’t understand sometimes how it is like that.”"

The two that he’s referring to are megastars, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. Two players everyone thought would be signed instantly but are still sitting at home as teams get ready for their seasons. This should be alarming to any player as teams have made offers but haven’t gotten the reward. Are the players asking for too much or are the teams just not making great offers? That’s the $200 million question.

Xander has seen some great success in his time with the Red Sox since he made his debut in 2013. That year he would help the team win a World Series and in 2018 he would do it again. Being a two-time World Champion at the age of 27 is wild to think about. But Bogey has done just that, and he’s been a big contributing factor to both wins.

Bogaerts is one of the names that must be on Dave Dombrowski’s urgency list along with Mookie Betts. These two have come up through the system and become household names with their play. Betts will become a free agent in 2021  if a deal isn’t reached beforehand.

"“The Red Sox have obviously treated me well throughout my career,” Bogaerts said. “Me and my family. I see how they treat other guys who come in. Me being here for a while, it’s a place any and everyone would want to play and stay.”"

Xander has expressed his desire to remain in Boston as the team and city have embraced him and treated him well in his time with the Red Sox. Earlier this offseason there was a rumor of possible talks with a key player that never materialized, that player was Bogey. It’s clear that the Red Sox want to keep him with the franchise for as long as they can.

Dave Dombrowski has said that he likes to get things done by Opening Day, whether it be contracts or trades. This way there are no distractions once the calendar flips and the regular season begins. Bogey doesn’t seem too worried if the right deal came his way before Opening Day either. Which is very interesting for a Scott Boras athlete, who are known for going on the market and getting as much as they can.

But with Harper and Machado sitting idle on the sidelines I can understand the urgency from Bogaerts. If I’m the Red Sox, I take this opportunity and sit down with Xander and Boras and get something ironed out before the gates open at Fenway. The Red Sox and Bogaerts are a perfect fit and can have a great future together.