“No progress towards a deal was made” when the Red Sox and Xander Bogaerts’ agent Scott Boras met yesterday, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe writes. Earlier reports suggested that other teams had pulled ahead of the Sox in the race to sign the All-Star, though chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said Bogaerts was still a major priority for the club.
As one might expect, Boras highlighted the amount of interest his client is generating from multiple teams, while not closing the door on any other suitor. In regards to the Red Sox, Boras said “I just know we continue to talk and have dialogue and continue the process with them. The Red Sox, they kind of have four-star ownership. These guys have proven over time that they win and they pursue winning….I think everyone around them understands the Sox without ‘X’ are So-So.”
While puns are part and parcel of the Boras experience, his agency’s general policy against letting a player’s former team make a so-called final offer is also notable in regards to Boston’s chances. “We’re not the matching kind. We let teams know that they have to assert,” Boras said. “We don’t ever hold back from reaching an agreement with any team and certainly we don’t give market preference to anyone. Otherwise, I think the free agent right would be dampened if you did.”
It remains unclear if re-signing Bogaerts is still a realistic proposition for the Red Sox, and many of the team’s actions over the last year (i.e. the signing of Trevor Story, or a low extension offer to Bogaerts last spring) would seem to suggest that the Sox are preparing for a future without Bogaerts on the roster. Another hint could be Boston’s interest in Kolten Wong, as The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier reports that the Sox had some talks with the Brewers before Wong was dealt to the Mariners.
A source tells Speier that if the Red Sox had traded for Wong, “it 100 percent would not have taken [them] out of the market” to re-sign Bogaerts. The Sox would have hypothetically used Bogaerts, Story, and Wong in the middle infield mix, or possibly even flipped Wong to another team in a trade if Bogaerts had indeed been re-signed. While Wong seems overqualified for such a part-time role, “the Sox want to explore opportunities to add high-end depth” after injuries hampered the position-player mix in 2022.
If Bogaerts’ future in Boston is still up in the air, another familiar face might be a possibility for the team, as MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo (Twitter link) reports that the Red Sox were meeting today with Christian Vazquez’s agents. Cotillo did note that this meeting might not directly involve Vazquez, as MDR Sports Management also represents several other players, including free agent catchers Robinson Chirinos and Roberto Perez.
Reese McGuire and Connor Wong are Boston’s incumbent catchers heading into the 2023 season, with prospect Ronaldo Hernandez and recent waiver claim Caleb Hamilton also in the mix. It would seem like the Sox are at least exploring the market for more help behind the plate, given how Boston has been mentioned as one of the many teams with trade interest in the Athletics’ Sean Murphy. However, Cotillo reports that there is “nothing going on” between the Red Sox and the top catcher on the free agent market, Willson Contreras.
Andrew Heaney was also on Boston’s radar this offseason, and Cotillo tweets that the Sox were one of the many teams who made the left-hander a contract offer. The Red Sox fell short, however, as Heaney opted to sign with the Rangers for two years and $25MM in guaranteed money.
I think everyone overshot Contreras’ market. It doesn’t sound like anyone is beating down the door to pay him. More of a back up option if other plans fall through. The lack of movement at the trade deadline should have been the first clue.
Offensive catchers are not the way to win today. Most pitchers without a catcher to control the game will either over throw or nibble too much. I would love to have Vasquez back but not as the centerpiece of the winter.
Boston doesn’t need any catcher at the MLB level with McGuire & Wong ready & in the fold. Go get Judge you cheap slobs! Ya hit 155 HRs with Bogey & NY kicked your ass sideways there 254 & in the standings…get serious or lose revenue because RedSox Nation isn’t into the Yo-Yo cellar-dweller BS every other year! Get Real Boston/Henry/Bloom/Kennedy/BOH/whoever else cheap slob is involved
He might leave the Yankees, but he’s not going there.
Guru, no way they spend for Judge, but I do love how you called out the Sox. Spot on
Nothing surprising here. Agents are obligated to touch base with any team that reach out to them, it’s part of their fiduciary duties.
Kind of how new car salesmen at a BMW dealer greet everyone that walks through the door.
In this case, chaim has been acting like a BMW buyer with a Walmart greeter paycheck. Most of the time, it just doesn’t work. Either you need to have massive savings to spend (he wont) or buy a trade-in off the back lot with mechanical issues or a salvage title (he shops these regularly.)
Spot on with the car salesman label. Let’s be honest when he interviewed for the job he presented a 5yr plan which played into what the ownership wanted. Payroll austerity, rebuilt farm system and winning.
It’s almost like they are trying to create the narrative they were just unlucky last season instead of it being a poorly constructed team. Add on deal and trades that didn’t pan out its just creating more uncertainty and holes.
I think Bloom is on his 5 year plan and Bogarts doesn’t fit into it right now. He didn’t “make the difference ” last year and won’t this year.Let him go ,bring up,Casas or Rafaeela ,Mayer and throw them in to get experience.There are too many GREAT teams in baseball right now that won’t be beat .We have a couple years to let some get better then buy what they need.Wasting money right now.Need to get rid of the Sale contract also. You can’t win the World Series every year and we are still paying for the last one.
I do agree with your thoughts here, especially what they will need to become in order to compete in the AL east. On the other hand, Bloom needs to be straighter forward with the fans and media. All hes doing is ticking people off by setting the bar high with no results to back up his mouth. Secondly, he also burning ties with players with these low-ball offers just to day hes tried for top talent. If this circus continues, no one will want to be employed by the Red Sox.
This exactly. It’s ok to step back and reset. Bloom is doing what ownership asked him to do, he is not dictating to ownership what to spend.
“The Red Sox, they kind of have four-star ownership. These guys have proven over time that they win and they pursue winning.” That’s well played by Boras – pitching inside.
Bloom sits on a throne of lies
Plus he probably smells like beef and cheese
I just wish he would give us an honest direction. I’m willing to support either decision if he has an explanation, but saying he will attempt to sign Bogaerts and not following through isn’t the answer.
It isn’t all that fancy. He’d like to bring Bogaerts back, but isn’t willing to offer a blank check. So, he’ll stay checked in until/unless Bogaerts signs elsewhere, perhaps considering a final and best offer at that time.
Blank checks are certainly not the honest direction I would want the team to go in.
oxu571 – This whole Xander discussion seems so silly to me.
It’s like ignoring your longtime wife, making no effort to keep her, letting her file for divorce, and then promising to always lower the toilet seat if she comes back.
Why would any free agent waste their time when they know how Bloom operates? They treat players like they are doing them a favor by offering a below market contract. It’s really incredible how far down the organization has gone the past few years.
Them being perfectly honest,telling fans what their plans are would be like sending HITLER a copy of what,when, and where they planned DDay
Not exactly. There’s a difference between letting the fans know a direction and laying out the whole floor plan. Saying one thing and doing the other isn’t the answer.
Panhead – There are two categories of people:
1) Those who keep secrets by not saying anything
2) Those who keep secrets by telling lies
I fall in the first category, clearly you fall in the second.
The Red Sox are the strangest team in the entire league. 4 World Series titles since ‘04. They finish last place a lot. They have spent enormous amounts of money and then go cheap. They let homegrown stars leave and sign other team’s homegrown stars. John Henry can be a great owner and a terrible one depending on the season. Perplexing organization.
Astros2017&22Champs;
This Red Sox stuff is drip drip drip.
The organization is obviously in some form of a rebuild. Their future is Story and and a few others combined with players now in AAA and AA as well as some below that level. When the core gets up and sorted out they’ll spend on name free agents again.
No one builds a sustainable contending team made up primarily of expensive free agents. The Astros sure didn’t. And the Rangers and Giants won’t. Even the Yankees have learned that lesson. Might want to check on the Dodgers as well. Heard that was coming.
Samuel… I think you hit it out of the park. 23 is a rebuild year once again.
To this day Henry wants to recreate Billy Beane. He’s never, NEVER, let that obsession go. He had a good thing with Theo and everyone got complacent. Blew things up, forced Theo and Tito out of town.
Then you got Ben and a managing flux. Farrel, Bobby V, a guy who couldn’t balance a roster bouncing from all pitching/poor hitting to no pitching/good hitting…. things didn’t gel until Dombrowski came to town, he was given free hand and there was only one chief calling the shots.
Now, you’re back where you were again. Bumbling Bloom. Chiefs wanted fingers in the pie, Henry envious of what he saw in the LAD, the HOU , etc etc. Bounced back to wanting his own Billy Beane again and thought Bloom could be molded into it. How’s that worked out? Not well.
GASox – Hafta disagree with you on Theo, he threw a hissyfit because he wanted total autonomy and he wanted an ownership piece. It was a power struggle, he wanted to force out Larry.
Theo leaving was the only possible ending..
Fever – you say the total control was the only ending, but, 3 questions for you… and I’ll even give the suggested answers:
1) where’s Larry these days? (Gone, and, stepped down in 2015, and, it was a structured/know it was coming situation internally. 2011 to 2015 is a while in the world of baseball ops, but, cherington wasnt getting moved around by Larry when he took over either so…)
2) did DD gain total control in 2015? (Yes.)
3) was Bloom given total control in 2019? (Yes.)
Now, I’ll qualify those suggested answers as being based on the reporting I saw and statements put forth out of ownership. They can mislead, but, haven’t disproven any of those to my knowledge.
I either didn’t read, or you added, the ownership piece. He didn’t get that from the cubs either, although, he has been covalent about it since. He joined a venture capital group, something starting with an ‘a’ that buys passive ownership stakes in sports teams. Is it inevitable he would leave? Probably. But the impetus was everyone getting lax, the beer/chicken/leaving dugout during games, and, letting that culture happen during an epic Sept implosion. And it was everyone responsible, you don’t get to that point unless everyone goes on cruise and either doesn’t pay attention or doesn’t care.
But, everything you have an unplanned leadership change that wasn’t structured it’s disruptive, and, will set a talented team backwards.
Not to mention several GMs and Managers in that time. The irony has really been the fact the most players on each team were remnants of the previous GM going all the way back to ‘04. It’s been a cycle of bringing in a new GM, big $$ signings, and trades winning.
Actually this is really the only time they’ve gone “cheap.”
I mean that’s debatable, Cherington built the 13 team on cheaper payroll model. They went from like $175 in 2012 to $150 in 2013. Obviously nobody is complaining about it because they won it all but I’m pretty sure Henry mandated Cherington to use less money for the 13 team.
@BoSox2013 you do raise a very good point. Cherington pulled off arguably the best trade in awhile in 2012 to shed payroll
bosox2013 – What are you talking about? The 2013 Red Sox had a virtually identical payroll to the 2012 Red Sox.
@ Fever Pitch Guy – I’m not interested in arguing with you.
“They finish last place a lot”. Well, that’ll happen when two of those last place finishes involved some of the highest last place win totals in MLB history. W-L record is 10x more important than arbitrary divisional ranking. Do you think Boston or any team cares that the Red Sox were in “last place” while multiple “fourth place” teams had 10+ more losses? And it isn’t as if the team had a record boosted by the division…if anything, had the team played the same schedule as everyone else it would have been that much better.
The Red Sox have a large market, but they’re not the Yankees or Dodgers. That’s why they let guys go – they have to draw a line on their own guys more often than those biggest money franchises do. At the same time, a ton of the guys the team has drawn a cost line on (but not all) have proven the team right for not overpaying.
It’s hard to argue with the results over the past two decades. As for the present process, it appears to be one that is eying the medium term and is reworking things, so that eludes judgement at the moment. We’ll see whether it’s a disaster in the making or short term sacrifice for long term gain.
“They finish last place a lot. .”
The last thing is way overblown. In two of the seasons, all they needed was 3 more wins to reach .500. And part of this is the fact we are WS-driven. If we don’t have a decent shot at a WSC, losing an extra couple of games is meaningless to us.
“They have spent enormous amounts of money and then go cheap”.
Why would you post that? We are always, 100% of the time, big spenders.
Joe – I don’t think the ‘last place’thing is overblown. You’ve got a couple things going on there.
1) The ego of Henry. Watching the rays and the full bottom tier rebuilding orioles finish better than you while spending 30% of what you do hurts, and, infuriates.
2) Fans pay a LOT of money to go to ballgames, especially at fenway where so few of the seats are ‘budget/value’ priced. Who wants to do that to lose or see a club mailing it in.
3) If anything, the most overblown stat I’ve seen in this little subthread is the idea of being within 3 wins of .500 mattering. That’s the most arbitrary cutoff there is and shouldn’t be pleasing to anyone except someone like Bloom who wants to be able to claim ‘well, we were the worst team in the AL east, but, at least we didn’t technically have a losing record overall…’ it’s a losers argument, used, to justify more losing.
As per your cheap rebuttal, it’s like we’ve talked before. Don’t confuse big spender for not being cheap. Quantity vs quality.
If I was a team owner I can go out tomorrow, sign 100 has been and over the hill players at $3m/yr, stuff the major and minor leagues with them, and have a $300m payroll. Was I operating cheap by refusing to sign highly talented guys, being too CHEAP to pay for bigger contracts? You bet.
Overall payroll figures neat the CBT limits doesn’t refute the operating cheap argument, unless, someone says directly ‘they were being cheap on total payroll.’
Signing Vasquez would give the Sox their best chance of retaining Bogaerts. Trading him was one of the ways they alienated Bogaerts. He and Vasquez have been friends since Single A when they roomed together.
What world do you live in? Bogaerts is going to take what he considers is the best offer. Vazquez and friendship will have nothing to do with it.
So, the Sox with Bogaerts = so-so+?
‘Sox’ minus ‘X’ as in ‘x’ander becomes ‘So’.
That’s his pun. Imagine sox-sox minus the x, so-so.
Haha, I got it. Can’t believe I missed that. Thanks for pointing it out.
Two Wongs don’t make a Wright.
Perplexing is a good word! Bloom could have reset the tax line last year! He made some real strange moves at the deadline when the team had very little chance! You have to have happy superstars to attract other stars! When you go cheap all the time, you then have to pay dearly! Pay Deavers 300 million and start being relevant again! If you don’t sign Deavers it will cost way more money to get this team back on track!
It’s too late to save money on “Deavers”. That ship has already sailed. Honestly, if Bogaerts doesn’t resign they should just trade Devers, he’s going to either cost more than Henry is willing to pay or he’s going to leave because he wants out. Granted, Bloom will probably just trade him to one of his old butt buddies like Friedman and get fleeced again.
The strange moves started when he traded for Jackie Bradley, Jr. The only way anyone could justify that trade was to say Bloom was experimenting with peyote at the time.
LOL….
Loston. Has every advantage you could want in MLB team but can’t stop pissing on itself..
Hey mister Rip Van Winkle, how was your nap these past 20 years? You have some catching up to do in the sports world, I see!
I was hoping for a reunion until the pun. They’re not the Sox-Sox. They’re the Sox. Take a way ‘x’ and it’s ‘so?’.
What the heck is going on with this team?
What is Peter Abraham’s deal? Every other day he has been spinning this narrative that the Red Sox aren’t in on Boegarts. Does he have an agenda or is he just gullible? Every time he reports on Red Sox/Bogaerts it gets refuted by both Boston and Bogaerts agent the same day.
Abraham used to be a Yankees reporter. He may be a Yankees fan trying to cause chaos.
Did not know that….. fair enough.
“The Red Sox fell short, however,”
No way
For some reason, Boston just can’t get onboard with the recent trend of paying players for 8+ years at market rates. While everyone knows there will be regression on the back half of these deals, this is the cost of doing business in MLB today for big market clubs. The Phillies just committed $300M to Trea Turner through age 41!
If Xander is looking for a 6-7 year deal, he’d only be 36 or 37 at the end of that contract so they should expect a solid 5 years of above average performance (at least at the plate) so Boston should be in on him. When it comes to Devers, he’ll be a free agent at age 26 or 27 so they should have no qualms about signing him to a 10 year deal. Sure, he may have to move off of 3rd base but Devers will continue to be an elite offensive player for another 6-7 years (at least) and then an above-average offensive player for the remainder of his deal. If they don’t re-sign Bogaerts, then they need to get an extension done with Devers this offseason or the fanbase is going to revolt! The Sox have plenty of money and plenty of CBT space to sign them both, but if they are out on X, then Devers becomes a must-sign.
Just because clubs are paying players at above market rates and absurd lengths doesn’t mean it’s the right way. Just because everyone is doing it doesn’t make it the right way.
I wonder if players like David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez, etc. were more concerned about money than playing the game. That team played with their hearts and seemed to enjoy what they were doing, not their salaries. Of course the money meant a lot to them but it seemed like the game came first. There were Rsox lifers. Because of the huge money many players get today, they sometimes get a little lazy, like being content to take an extra month off because they sprained their pinky. Why hurry back? The money is already in the bank. I wish some of them would play like they really loved the game.
I agree with everything except extending Devers. Without Bogaerts it’s just Devers. Most teams have one superstar player and don’t sniff the postseason. Bogaerts is kind of the be all, end all. This team wasn’t competitive with Bogaerts in 2022 and will definitely not be competitive without him in 2023. If Bogaerts leaves, Boston needs to finally commit to the re-build, instead putting Red Sox fans through this “slow motion re-build” which feels like watching a cat get hit by a car over and over again.
Or Bosox2013 getting run over by a car over and over again.
Cool dude.
Bosom- that’s the frustrating part. bloom should have blown it apart immediately to get the most return out of the players he had. Instead we’re getting nothing for Xander, JD and Eovaldi and less for Devers.
So for those interested, I have the Red Sox figured out. Each century they are serious for the first 2 decades and win 3 or 4 championships. Then the ownership loses interest and trades their best players (or lose them to free agency). For the next 86 years, they screw around, then get serious again. Looking forward to 2104 though I will be 157 then.
Very underrated comment, I think you definitely have it figured out…
I will be a spry 127 by then, so I may make it to see it again, kinda like
Halley’s Comet…
Just put most of the 2018 team back together.
2022 FAs:
X, Vazquez, JD, Kimbrel, Benny, Eovaldi, and David Price.
Just kidding & C’mon $Chaim$
I wouldn’t mind the Sox signing Mike Zunino but i could see Vazquez coming back.
Bogaerts is sadly more than likely gone. Only way he comes back is if the SS market after Correa craters in the Sox favor
test post
I finally figured out what the Red Sox are doing. Every century they take the first two decades seriously, and win 3 or 4 championships. Then the owners lose interest and trade their best players, and wait 86 years to get serious again. Hope I’m still here in 2104 for their next championship! I’ll be 157
Just for fun, folks should post what they would be willing to spend on Bogaerts. For all the complaints, no one ever says what they would consider an acceptable price.
Anyone want to post their numbers, or is it easier to sit back and complain?
3 years/$105M. Mayer takes over after that.
7 years, $196
I’d start ar $196m/7 with 3 consecutive joint options, each triggering an additional one year with an additional one year option. I’d have the options decline in value. 2030 24m/14m, 2031 20m/10m, 2032 16m/6m.
I’d also include bonus escalators for making 550 PAs – $250k, 20 HRs $250k, MVP voting top 5 $500k, Silver Slugger $500k, GG $500k.
In theory, though it never happens, the absolute max value on the deal is then $276m if every incentive is made and team exercises all options.
6 years, $165M
It seems the Red Sox are a day late on a lot of players. Come on Bloom
The White Sox plan is the guys hurt last year stay injury free and everyone plays better, WTF. White Sox are going to suck for a long time