Chicago Cubs interested in 2 Red Sox free agents
Chicago Cubs interested in Red Sox free agents Christian Vázquez, Xander Bogaerts
Boston’s two longest-tenured players are currently free agents, and both are being scoped out by one of baseball’s oldest teams.
The Athletic (subscription required) reported that the Chicago Cubs are reportedly interested in Christian Vázquez and NBC Sports says that they’ve reached out to Scott Boras about Xander Bogaerts. Vázquez was the organization’s longest-tenured member when the Sox traded him to the Houston Astros at the deadline. The Sox drafted him the year before they signed Bogaerts as a 16-year-old out of Aruba. Bogaerts debuted in 2013, and Vázquez arrived the following season.
Bogaerts is one of this year’s free-agent class’ top stars. He just won his fifth Silver Slugger, is coming off his fourth All-Star season, and of course, is a two-time World Series champion. He’s coming off the best defensive season of his 10-year career, continues to be one of the best hitters at his position, and as he only turned 30 last month, he’s expected to command one of the offseason’s biggest contracts.
Vázquez is a reigning World Series champion for the second time and the second catcher in World Series history to be behind the dish for a (combined) no-hitter. He’s the second-best catching option on the market this offseason. The first is none other than the star the Cubs let reach free agency, Willson Contreras, who’s been named as a potential fit for none other than the Red Sox.
Wouldn’t it be less complicated for everyone to just return home?
The St. Louis Cardinals are also considered a possible landing spot for the veteran catcher, as Yadier Molina just retired. And of course, pretty much everyone is interested in Bogaerts. The draw of targeting both is that the duo is incredibly close. Bogaerts was devastated when the Sox traded Vázquez, going so far as to question the direction of the organization. If the Cubs are able to convince one free agent to sign with them, it would go a long way toward luring the other.
