Padres Insider Considers Xander Bogaerts 'Unmovable' Due To Contract
When the San Diego Padres signed star infielder Xander Bogaerts last offseason, it made waves throughout Major League Baseball. They brought him in despite already having multiple infielders who could play the shortstop position.
While they loved what he brought to the table in 2023, if they could get off the rest of his massive contract, they may have to consider it.
His 11-year deal worth $280 million puts a ton of weight on the Padres payroll, especially as they try to shed salary this offseason. The team faltered last year, and now is dealing with the consequences of going all-in.
There has been some thought this offseason that the Padres could try to move off some of their big contracts. They need to shed salary, and this could be the only way to do so.
The biggest issue is that most have full no-trade clauses in them, but if the Padres did get someone to agree, It would likely be Bogaerts. Padres insider Dennis Lin of The Athletic broke it all down.
"As for Bogaerts, he might be the likeliest to agree to being traded; the shortstop is newer to the organization than the other players, and the Padres already have contemplated moving him to another position."
Per Dennis Lin of The Athletic
Bogaerts had a solid first year in San Diego, hitting .285 with 19 home runs and 58 runs batted in. He would love his numbers to increase going forward and could be a decent player to move, but his contract is a big issue.
"At the same time, rival teams already consider his contract — which surpassed the Red Sox’s final offer by nine figures — one of the worst in the sport. Like Machado, he appears close to unmovable"
Per Dennis Lin of The Athletic
It's unlikely that they will be able to move Bogaerts unless they eat a giant chunk of the salary. But at that point, they may as well keep him around. This offseason will certainly be one to remember for the Padres, as they try to manage their roster construction the best they can financially.