Red Sox Sign Impending Free Agent To Extension

The Boston Red Sox have been trying to figure out a way all season to hang on to their impending free agents. On Monday they managed to sign one to an extension. 

No, it's not a $250M deal with shortstop Xander Bogaerts. A much more modest one-year, $10M deal with Kiké Hernandez will have to do for now. 

Hernández had the chance to be one of the top position players on this year's free agent market if he turned in a good 2022. Injuries took that chance away.

A savvy, high upside deal by the Red Sox here. This starts a long, long off-season checklist. https://t.co/g17SS4rLZh

— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) September 6, 2022

As noted by Red Sox beat writer Chris Cotillo, Hernandez could have been in store for a big payday this offseason, if injuries hadn't sabotaged his season. 

Instead, he'll take the one year deal, and try again in 2023. 

Hernandez was one of Boston's most valuable players in the 2021 playoffs, following up on a 20-HR season in which he was an ignitor for the Red Sox offense, while compiling a 4.9 bWAR. 

2022, however, has been a different story. Hernandez missed two months with a hip flexor injury, and it's limited him to a .219 average with a .637 OPS and just six home runs. 

He's finishing up a 2-year, $14M contract. 

The Red Sox, despite the signing, will still have a number of players entering free agency this winter, including shortstop Bogaerts, who is expected to opt out of his contract, as well as starters Nathan Eovaldi, Michael Wacha and Rich Hill, plus reliever Matt Strahm. 

Photos: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports,  Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports