Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts is unbelievably underrated

The Red Sox have their shortstop signed to a bargain deal

Another aspect that gets fans and the media buzzing about certain players pertains to their contract. Tatis Jr. made headlines for his massive $340 million extension. Lindor topped that with a $341 million extension shortly after being traded to the New York Mets, making him the highest paid shortstop in the game. Correa, Story and World Series MVP Corey Seager are part of a loaded free-agent class hitting the market after this season.

Bogaerts signed a team-friendly six-year, $120 million extension in 2019. He has the ability to opt-out after next season and will almost certainly sign a more lucrative deal but he’s also made it clear that he wants to stay in Boston.

He’ll get a fair raise from the Red Sox but the unlikelihood that he’ll land with another team on a massive contract that tops the other elites at his position means he isn’t drawing the attention that those hitting the open market will warrant.

Fair or not, being underpaid could be a factor in why Bogaerts remains underrated. Perhaps that will change if he opts out and considers leaving next year but with several other factors working against him, it might not be enough to launch Bogaerts into the top-tier in terms of nationwide attention even if his production warrants that recognition.

It shouldn’t matter to the Red Sox whether or not Bogaerts is underrated. They know how much he means to this team and he’s well on his way to becoming the best shortstop in franchise history. As far as the club is concerned, Bogaerts can continue flying under the radar as long as he continues leading this team toward another World Series championship.