2019 is a contract year for Xander Bogaerts, unless he signs sometime in spring training. This means we should get the best possible version of the Boston Red Sox shortstop.
Since 2014, after making his debut in 2013, Xander Bogaerts has been the full-time starting shortstop for the Boston Red Sox. 2019 should be no different, with Bogaerts again penciled in as the starter.
Could this year be the last season we see Bogaerts manning the middle of Boston’s infield?
His contract is up after the season and — with other free agents like Mookie Betts, Chris Sale, and Jackie Bradley Jr.— the Red Sox might have a tough choice ahead of them. It’s possible we may have to envision a future without the standout shortstop on the team.
Already there is debate on whether or not the Red Sox should keep Bogaerts beyond this season. (I stand in the affirmative camp). He plays hard, plays through injuries as needed, has produced regularly in his Boston career and has been a constant positive presence in the past five plus seasons. (Discounting some shoddy postseason play).
Postseason play aside, we’re here to talk about goals for Bogaerts in the 2019 regular season. Assuming nothing progresses in contract talks, Bogaerts will be playing for a big pay day in 2020. That alone can make a huge difference for some players in how a season plays out.
Bogaerts will be looking to duplicate a 2018 season in which he had one of his best seasons at the plate. Here are three regular season goals for the 2019 season.
Hitting for power and average
In 2018, Bogaerts played in the least amount of games in his career (136), discounting his appearances in 2013 in which he played 18 regular season games.
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He also put up some of his finest numbers at the plate.
Bogaerts had career-highs in home runs (23), RBI (103), OBP (.360), OPS (.883) and doubles (45).
He also had a batting average of .288. While the number is respectable, something for Bogaerts to strive for is hitting .300 again. He last hit the mark in 2015, when he finished the season at .320.
Consistency throughout the season will help. The last few seasons, including a down 2017 when he battled injuries, have seen Bogaerts deal with inconsistency. Last May, he hit only .220 in an otherwise strong season.
Getting the average to creep closer to .300 or higher, plus by keeping power numbers along the same line, will only make this Red Sox offense more of a threat. Combining all aspects of his career at the plate, Bogaerts could easily finish with 25 home runs, 100 RBI, and a .300 average.
And that’s exactly what he should strive for (plus 40 doubles to boot).
Growing as a leader
Believe it or not, Bogaerts has become one of the elder statesman on the Boston Red Sox. While there are plenty of leaders to go around, Bogaerts will have an important role due to the man standing next to him in the infield.
Rafael Devers will likely be taking the fair share of starts at third. And a goal for Bogaerts will to be to mentor the third baseman.
This might not be as tangible to judge at season’s end as say looking at stats, but simply having the experience of Bogaerts should aid in Devers’ growth. This can range from offering words of wisdom on the field and in the dugout or to simply picking up Devers after a bad game.
Sometimes, it’s seeing little things like a quick pep talk or sharing a laugh on the bench that gives fans an insight to leadership. Bogaerts has the opportunity to take that next step in 2019 and, not that he hasn’t already, grow even more as a leader.
Individual Accolades
Another World Series title in 2019 would be nice.
At an individual level, it would excellent to see Bogaerts collect some more hardware. He’s been on the outside looking in for things like the All-Star game. He’s only made one, back in 2016, and to see him notch a second one in 2019 would be perfect.
Bogaerts is the proud owner of two Silver Slugger awards, in 2015 and ’16. A third in 2019 is very possible, especially if he sees an uptick in power numbers while hitting over .300.
Considering he also received 2 percent of the MVP votes in 2019, it’ s not too much to ask for an MVP award, is it? Okay, that might be a grand dream, especially with the reigning MVP on the team. But Bogaerts definitely can be in the discussion with another fine season.
Can we throw a Gold Glove Award in there as well? It’s certainly something to strive for. He won’t have to improve leaps and bounds to achieve it. Bogaerts has always been an adequate infielder. Coming off a 2018 season in which he committed 10 errors, he’s close. Get that number down to seven and find ways to save more runs (his defensive runs saved above average number: -19) and then we’ll.
But hey, if he can achieve at least two of these individual awards, the 2019 season can be deemed an individual success.