When the Red Sox offered to extend Bogaerts current contract by three years and $60 million in order to prevent him from becoming a free agent, the star shortstop thought it was “a slap”.
Xander Bogaerts’s contract offer from the Red Sox made an impression
The offer was far from Bogaerts’ actual free-agent market, and the team’s clubhouse leader went on to sign an 11-year, $280 million contract with the San Diego Padres.
After seeing the team sign infielder Trevor Story to a six-year $140 million contract, Bogaerts was optimistic that he could work out an extension to remain in Boston. According to ESPN’s Joon Lee.
Lee also reports that Bogaerts “would have seriously considered an extension similar to Story’s deal.”
However, Boston’s opportunity to retain one of its biggest homegrown stars has passed. The team underperformed in the market and ultimately paid the price in a different way.
Fans have expressed outrage over the Red Sox’s failure to keep Bogaerts in Boston, especially considering the team’s previous failures to retain other homegrown stars like Mookie Betts and Jon Lester in comparable circumstances.
