Xander Bogaerts Comments on Departure From Boston Red Sox This Offseason

Former Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts signed and 11-year, $280 million contract with the San Diego Padres this offseason. He addressed his departure from Boston with Chris Cotillo of MassLive recently. You can read a portion of his comments here.

San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts signed an 11-year, $280 million contract with the Padres this offseason, ending a ten year run with the Boston Red Sox that saw him make four all-star teams and win two World Series titles.

One of the more likeable players in Red Sox history, Bogaerts debuted in 2013 and played alongside Red Sox legends such as David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia, taking the banner of Sox leader after each of them retired.

Red Sox fans were disappointed to see Bogaerts go this offseason after hoping the two sides would come to an agreement, but it didn't materialize.

The Red Sox offered a low contract extension during the spring of 2022 that started negotiations off on the wrong foot. Bogaerts still had three-years, $60 million left on his deal and the Sox effectively offered an additional one year and $30 million for a total of four years and $90 million.

Bogaerts recently addressed negotiations with the Red Sox with Chris Cotillo of MassLive, saying: 

“The one in spring training was a little tough. I think it’s well-documented what the offer was,” Bogaerts told Cotillo. “That was a tough pill to swallow at that time because you’re hearing about extension talks so you’re looking forward to seeing what they’re thinking and what they’re offering. That was a tough one.”

The Red Sox held onto Bogaerts through the end of the season last year and made another offer before Bogaerts ultimately opted out. This one was a much more competitive offer in the six years, $160 million range but it ended up being towered over by the Padres offer at the Winter Meetings.

“Way off,” Bogaerts said of Boston’s final offer. “They felt the way they felt. They did what they did. I have no bad feelings for them. I’ve seen multiple great players come through that organization who I’ve played with and they’re not there anymore. Some guys went from pretty untradeable to tradeable. That was eye-opening. It makes you see things differently, for sure.”

Bogaerts echoed those comments recently as well, saying that he had no hard feelings towards the organization. You can hear those comments here. For his career, Bogaerts is a .292 hitter with 160 home runs, posting a WAR of 36.1.

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