Yankees Not Expected To Pursue Red Sox's Xander Bogaerts, Top Shortstops
The Boston Red Sox will have their hands full as multiple pieces of their core enter the free-agent market this winter, but they reportedly will not have to battle their biggest rival for the highest-touted player of the bunch.
"The (St. Louis) Cardinals, (San Francisco) Giants, (Philadelphia) Phillies and (Chicago) Cubs are among teams that could join the Red Sox, (Los Angeles) Dodgers, (Atlanta) Braves and (Minnesota) Twins in pursuit of one of the big free-agent shortstops -- Trea Turner, Dansby Swanson, Carlos Correa or Xander Bogaerts (Correa and Bogaerts will be opting out)," the New York Post's Jon Heyman wrote Thursday.
"The (New York) Yankees are thought to be OK with Isiah Kiner-Falefa holding the spot for top prospect Anthony Volpe, unless they ultimately decide Volpe is better suited for second base."
While there appears to be plenty of competition for Bogaerts and other premier middle infielders, the Yankees' deep pockets are not expected to play a role in the shortstop carousel for the second year in a row.
The Bronx Bombers seemingly are putting their full belief in the pairing of Kiner-Falefa and Volpe. Falefa is tied for 14th in WAR among shortstops with a 2.8, while Volpe is the No. 5 prospect in Major League Baseball according to MLB Pipeline.
While it's good to know how involved other teams would be in a Bogaerts sweepstakes, the Red Sox could avoid the concept altogether.
Bogey did not rule out signing a deal before the season is over. Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom claimed that the 29-year-old is someone he wants to have in Boston his whole career, which the slugger appreciated. Manager Alex Cora said the team is preparing to bring him back.
Whether the Red Sox brass is true to their word or not, it's a nice consolation to know that Bogaerts is not expected to end up in the Bronx, sporting pinstripes.
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