MLB Rumors: Padres add wrinkle in Red Sox, Xander Bogaerts saga
Where will Xander Bogaert land in free agency? Well, if it is not the Boston Red Sox, one promising destination is the San Diego Padres where he would round out a formidable infield if he is willing to do something he said he wouldn’t do in Boston which is switch his natural position of playing shortstop.
As one of the top free agents on the market, is it fair for any team to ask him to play another position?
Well money talks in sports and if the contract is right, a team like the Padres can’t be counted out in the sweepstakes for Bogaerts, especially if that team is passionate about his services. As Ken Rosenthal originally reported, Padres general manager A.J. Preller asked Bogaerts’ agent Scott Boras whether his client was willing to switch positions.
"“Bogaerts would make particular sense for the Padres if he was willing to play first base or second short-term, then possibly move to third if Manny Machado opts out after next season,” Rosenthal wrote for The Athletic, via Masslive.com."
Although Boras rejected the idea, could the market and a chance to win a World Series prompt Bogaerts to consider an idea he rejected with the Red Sox. Could that possibility open the door for more suitors for Bogaerts while also enhancing an opportunity to rejoin the Red Sox?
Padres explore interest in long time Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts
In joining an infield that includes Machado and shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., Bogaerts would be a part of an enticing trio if he did move to second base or eventually first base, something that he will have to consider doing at some point in his career as he gets older.
But does that time have to be now? Is there a better situation at their where Bogaerts can get paid to play the position he loves. At the age of 30, he still should have a few years left of being able to play the position at a high level, at least that what he feels anyway.
Back when the Red Sox signed Trevor Story, Bogaerts made it clear he wasn’t willing to switch from a position they he played his whole career and “take a lot of pride in.” But the fact that the Red Sox asked and now another team is asking in their pursuit may be a sign that people may be seeing a decline is Bogaerts defensively.
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What makes this rumor even more juicy is if Bogaerts does end up landing in San Diego. That would be a huge slap to the Red Sox because if he does make that positional change to join the Padres, why wouldn’t he even consider that in Boston?
While there is no indication as to whether a change to second base would’ve garner a contract extension with the Red Sox, it didn’t help the relationship between the two sides either. With Story and top prospect Marcelo Mayer waiting in the shadows, the Red Sox really don’t need to break the bank to keep Bogaerts as a shortstop.
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To fill one of the other positions like second (more long term) or even first base (short term), well that could open the well again and reconcile the marriage between the Red Sox and Bogaerts because let’s be clear, the team will be better with their leader and Story continuing to play second is not so bad.
If the Boston Red Sox are truly committed to re-signing Bogaerts, it would have to be as their shortstop. But eventually he’ll have to make that switch or at least consider it. This rumored Padres inquiry proves the Red Sox are not the only team thinking that way.