After parting ways with Mookie Betts earlier this year, it appears that the struggling Boston Red Sox might say goodbye to another All-Star. According to multiple reports around the league, Red Sox are considering shopping star shortstop Xander Bogaerts before the trade deadline.
As currently constituted, Red Sox are going nowhere soon. They are the worst team in American League record-wise and currently ride a 9-game losing streak. Considering all this, as well as several important aspects of Bogaerts’ contract, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports that Boston will do their due diligence and see what the 27-year-old shortstop could net them on the open market.
According to Rosenthal, in order for Red Sox to maximize Xander Bogaerts’ value, they need to move him during this trade window. Bogaerts inked a 6-year, $120 million contract extension during the 2019 season, and this new contract guarantees him “full no-trade protection” once he gets seven years of service in the majors. He will reach this mark in September, and after that, Boston won’t be able to trade him without restrictions.
Even though Bogaerts can opt-out of his contract following the 2022 MLB season, any team that acquires him would have him on board for at least two and a half seasons. Combine this with his steady production and somewhat cheap salary, and Red Sox could possibly get enough assets to get the franchise back on its feet.
Xander Bogaerts made his MLB debut with Red Sox in 2013 and was part of the squad that won the World Series twice in the past decade. He has two All-Star appearances by his name while winning the Silver Slugger Award three times.
Bogaerts’ career stats include .288 batting average, 111 home runs, and 514 RBIs.
