Xander Bogaerts’ Gold Glove nomination drives up price of possible Red Sox extension

Xander Bogaerts was already going to command a hefty salary from either the Boston Red Sox or some other team smart enough to try and sign him this offseason.

His asking price is going to be even higher now that he’s a Gold Glove finalist.

On Thursday afternoon, Rawlings announced that Bogaerts, Carlos Correa, and Jeremy Peña are the three American League finalists for Gold Glove at shortstop.

Should Xander Bogaerts win a Gold Glove in 2022?

Bogaerts has been one of the game’s best offensive shortstops for years, but throughout his career, the only real critique against him was subpar defense, at least compared to elite defenders at his position. This is his first time as a finalist since 2015.

But this year, Bogaerts took his glovework to the next level. He wasn’t just good this year, he actually has a better all-around case to win the award. Of the three finalists, he played the most games and innings, with the most put-outs, assists, and double plays. He made fewer errors in more games than Peña, and only two more errors than Correa, who only played 132 games to Bogaerts’ 146. The Sox star also outranked Correa in Defensive Runs Saved and +5 Outs Above Average, only two behind Peña and shockingly ahead of Correa’s -3.

23 different Red Sox players have won at least one Gold Glove since Rawlings created the award in 1957, but Rick Burleson is the only shortstop in franchise history to win one, way back in 1979.

The finalists and eventual winners are 75% determined by MLB managers and coaches (though they cannot vote for their own players) and 25% based on the SABR Defensive Index, which puts Bogaerts behind Peña, but ahead of Correa.

Hopefully, they’ll agree that this is Bogaerts’ year.

And hopefully, the Sox pay him.

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