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Red Sox win big with team-friendly Xander Bogaerts contract extension

By Kyle Porch

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 08: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the Boston Red Sox hits a single against Luis Severino #40 of the New York Yankees during the third inning in Game Three of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 08, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 08: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the Boston Red Sox hits a single against Luis Severino #40 of the New York Yankees during the third inning in Game Three of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 08, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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The Boston Red Sox and All-Star shortstop Xander Bogaerts agreed to a 7-year, $132 million contract extension on Sunday night.

With the series in Seattle finally over, some good news circled its way around the web on Sunday Night. Xander Bogaerts became the 22nd player to sign an extension this season. While a 7-year, $132 million deal seems like a lot to pay for most people, Bogaerts took a huge pay cut to stay with this team. While Bogaerts is still one of the few underrated players on the Red Sox, he could’ve earned a lot more on the open market.

Nolan Arenado, the Colorado Rockies star third basemen, earned himself an 8-year, $260 million deal in late February. It comes with an opt-out clause after the third season. He came into the league a couple of months before Bogaerts, but both players are similar offensively. Both guys can spread the ball to almost all parts of the field. They also flash raw power. While Arenado has higher numbers across the board, their game plan is the same.

Nolan is also a better defender. Bogaerts has steadily improved his defense every season, but still has some work to do to be on Arenado’s level. If Bogaerts improves and opts out of this contract, expect him to get a smaller version of this deal.

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When this deal activates, he will be the second highest paid shortstop behind Elvis Andrus. Both shortstops are eerily similar. While Elvis has never been the one to hit a lot of home runs, Bogaerts had only two seasons with 20 or more home runs in a season. As his career prolonged, Andrus’ defense got better, and he became an asset to the Texas Rangers. Hence why he received an 8-year, $120 million contract in 2016.

While his market was never a sure thing, there were a lot of numbers being thrown around. There were rumors of 7 years, $215 million, 6 years, $195 million, and everything else in between. While if Bogaerts can remain his progression in an upward trend this could end up being a huge steal.  As 2019 has officially begun, he has already gotten that first home run off of his belt.

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While being a Scott Boras client made it seem unrealistic an extension would be done, the overall interest of content from Bogaerts prevailed. As the pieces of the young core are slowly being locked up, the future is looking bright for Red Sox and Red Sox nation!

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