The Boston Red Sox may not be going anywhere this year with a disappointing 67-69 record – unless they have a perfect September – but that doesn’t mean they don’t have elite players.
When we talk about consistent stars, Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts stands out on his team and in MLB as a whole.
Stats show just how dominant he is, even in a year in which the Red Sox have underachieved.
“AL Batting Average Leaders: 1. Xander Bogaerts, .317; 2. Luis Arraez, .314. MLB SS WAR Leaders: 1. Xander Bogaerts, 5.7; 2. Francisco Lindor, 5.4; 3. Dansby Swanson, 5.4; 4. Trea Turner, 5.3. MLB SS OPS Leaders: 1. Xander Bogaerts, .853; 2. Trea Turner, .827; 3. Corey Seager, .790,” ESPN and NESN’s Mike Monaco tweeted.
AL Batting Average Leaders
1. Xander Bogaerts, .317
2. Luis Arraez, .314MLB SS WAR Leaders
1. Xander Bogaerts, 5.7
2. Francisco Lindor, 5.4
3. Dansby Swanson, 5.4
4. Trea Turner, 5.3MLB SS OPS Leaders
1. Xander Bogaerts, .853
2. Trea Turner, .827
3. Corey Seager, .790— Mike Monaco (@MikeMonaco_) September 6, 2022
Bogaerts leads the junior circuit with his .317 batting average, even higher than hitting machine Luis Arraez.
There isn’t a single shortstop in baseball with a higher WAR than Bogaerts.
WAR means Wins Above Replacement, and tries to determine the impact each player has on his team.
The Most Valuable Shortstop In Baseball
So, we can say that Bogaerts has contributed 5.7 “Wins” in comparison with a hypothetical, replacement-level player.
That is star-level performance, and he projects to beat his career-high of 5.9 WAR established back in 2019.
If you are not a fan of advanced metrics, even traditional ones like OPS certify Bogaerts’ incredible performance in 2022.
He is potentially playing for his next contract.
Technically, Bogaerts is under contract through 2026 on a $20 million annual salary.
However, he has the ability to opt out of that pact after the World Series.
He most likely will: with those numbers, he can ask for much, much more than $20 million per year.
The Red Sox may have the first shot at re-signing their star player, but it will cost them dearly.
NEXT: Red Sox Insider Adds Context To The Latest Contract Extension