MLB Rumors: What Bogaerts Will Get In Free Agency

Xander Bogaerts has three years and $60M left on his existing deal with the Boston Red Sox. But he will be exercising an opt-out as soon as the World Series is over, and will be chasing a much larger payday in free agency. 

The Red Sox and their longtime shortstop were said to be over $100M apart in extension negotiations before the season began, and sources indicate that an 11th hour deal to strike an extension is now considered "unlikely." 

A new report indicates the contract value that the Red Sox will have to come up to if they hope to keep their four-time All-Star.

Red Sox’s Xander Bogaerts projected to receive 8-year, $225-million contract in free agency https://t.co/yDw0hAHVMm

— Christopher Smith (@SmittyOnMLB) November 4, 2022

MLB Insider Jon Heyman's sources tell him that Bogaerts is projected to receive an 8-year contract worth $225M. That deal would take the 30-year-old through his age-37 season. 

If the Sox are not able to come to terms with Bogaerts, Heyman also lists two other free agent-to-be shortstops Trea Turner and Dansby Swanson as players they would pivot to. 

Complicating things here for Boston, as noted by Christopher Smith on Masslive.com, is that because of their payroll (exceeding the competitive balance threshold), if the Red Sox were to sign a qualified free agent, they would lose their second- and fifth-highest draft picks in the 2023 MLB Draft. That's a steep price to pay, on top off the couple hundred million the free agent would cost.  

Between the Bogaerts and Rafael Devers situations, the Red Sox certainly have some work to do this offseason.

Photo: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports