Red Sox Extension Talks With Xander Bogaerts Haven't Gone Anywhere

Remember that report that the Red Sox were attempting to extend one of their core players and everybody thought it was Andrew Benintendi? Benintendi confirmed over the weekend that it was not him. It was Xander Bogaerts, and those talks haven’t gone anywhere.

The mystery player the Red Sox talked to about an extension earlier this offseason was Xander Bogaerts, multiple sources said. The conversations never heated up or brought the sides close to a deal, but the Red Sox and Bogaerts’ agency, Scott Boras’ camp, did engage on the matter.

Said Bogaerts on the outlook from here: “I mean, always if both sides can get to an agreement to a point…I don’t see no wrong with that. But I mean if the price is right, I guess, for both sides, I think it’s always fair enough for anyone who’s open to talk.”

While it would be nice to lock up Benintendi, he won’t reach free agency until after the 2022 season, so that can go on the back burner for now. Bogaerts has one year of control remaining before he hits free agency following the conclusion of the 2019 season. Bogaerts isn’t the only name that the Red Sox have to consider as it pertains to a fast approaching run at free agency. In addition to Bogaerts, Chris Sale and Rick Porcello are both free agents at the end of the 2019 season. And, of course, there’s Mookie Betts after the 2020 season.

This past weekend, we interviewed Dave Dombrowski for the newest episode of Section 10 that’ll be out this week, and we asked him about the number of impact players that are coming up on free agency. Simply put, the Red Sox can’t sign them all. We know that much. Sale said over the weekend, “My phone is on if they call me,” and has been vocal about either wanting to sign an extension to stay in Boston or return in free agency, but the Red Sox haven’t gotten that type of public comment from the likes of Betts or Bogaerts. Porcello, too, for that matter, but the belief is that he’s more than willing to stay in Boston.

With the extension talks with Bogaerts seemingly hitting somewhat of an impasse for now, chatter has already started about whether or not the Red Sox should jump into the Manny Machado sweepstakes. As crazy as that sounds, there is some logic there. Now, I’m not advocating for this, but if the market for Machado is as down as we’re being told that it is, then what’s stopping the Red Sox from signing Machado at somewhat of a “bargain” deal — comparatively speaking, after what we thought he’d land in free agency — and then flipping Bogaerts to either address other needs (bullpen) or replenish the barren wasteland known as the Red Sox farm system?

Again, I wouldn’t do it. But that’s the thought process, and something that at least has to be discussed, all things considered. I’d still focus on making something happen with Bogaerts, who is coming off a fantastic season where he hit .288 with an .883 OPS, 23 homers and 45 doubles. In all likelihood, Bogaerts and his camp are just waiting to see what Machado fetches in free agency so that they can then use that as a benchmark for either extension talks or a free agent contract next year. If you let those pieces fall into place, then you should have a much better idea if Bogaerts is going to be the starting shortstop for the Boston Red Sox after the 2019 season.

When you consider how much Betts is going to land as a free agent (first $400 million player?), the Red Sox find themselves in a tough spot as they attempt to keep their championship core intact. While some players might be easier to walk away from, like Craig Kimbrel for example, players like Bogaerts are the ones that you pony up for, especially when year-one of a potential new deal would be his age-27 season. AKA his prime. We haven’t even seen his prime yet.