Red Sox 4-Time All-Star Officially Opts Out; 6 Suitors Targeting The Shortstop

This was a day that Boston Red Sox fans knew was coming, but nevertheless, the news becoming official makes the reality of the situation hit a bit harder.

Per the @MLBPA, Xander Bogaerts has officially exercised the opt-put on his contract and is now a free agent.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) November 7, 2022

Xander Bogaerts has officially exercised the opt-out in his contract becoming a free agent. This was a given, due to the fact that he has 3 years, $60M left on his current deal, but entering the free agent market now will allow him to secure a much bigger bag. Probably over $150M+ more in total dollars.

Bogaerts had another All-Star season in 2022, posting a .307 average with an . 833 OPS, along with a .377 on-base, 15 homers and 38 doubles.

The Red Sox could only muster a low-ball offer on an extension before the season started (reports were that the two sides were $100M apart), but now they'll have to step up to the plate big-time.

According to MLB Insider Jon Heyman, no less than six other teams have Bogaerts squarely on their radar:

San Francisco Giants
Philadelphia Phillies
St. Louis Cardinals
Minnesota Twins
Los Angeles Dodgers
Atlanta Braves

The last three on the list, the Twins, Dodgers and Braves will first try to re-sign their own free agent star shortstops—Carlos Correa, Trea Turner and Dansby Swanson, respectively. But if they can't, they'll each be throwing plenty of money at Bogaerts to try to steal him from Boston.

Photo: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports