Xander Bogaerts is officially a free agent now that he opted out of the three years remaining on his contract with the Boston Red Sox.
He was scheduled to make $20 million per year for the remainder of that contract, but at 30 years old and coming off the best season of his career in 2022, he could very well push or surpass $30 million per campaign for longer than those three years.
It’s the opportunity of a lifetime for Bogaerts, and he wasn’t going to let it pass.
Bogaerts’ agent is Scott Boras, one of the most famous in the industry.
He is known for adivising players to wait until free agency as opposed to signing extensions.
He is now really excited for Bogaerts’ chance to cash in this offseason.
He even made jokes about his client’s name and earning opportunities.
“Boras on Bogaerts: ‘This is the first time teams have had the opportunity to sign the X-Man. They are finding it a Marvelous opportunity,’” insider Alex Speier tweeted.
Boras on Bogaerts: “This is the first time teams have had the opportunity to sign the X-Man. They are finding it a Marvelous opportunity.”
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) November 9, 2022
Bogaerts Will Make Life-Changing Money
You could even say that Bogaerts’ free agency is the stuff of movies.
Lame jokes aside, the player does have an opportunity to make more than Marcus Semien ($175 million) and close to the best-paid shortstops like Corey Seager ($325 million) and Francisco Lindor ($341 million).
The final number is not expected to reach $300 million, but will probably exceed $200 million.
Bogaerts, 30, hit .307/.377/.456 with 15 home runs and 6.1 Wins Above Replacement (WAR), the highest output of his career.
Speier did say that Red Sox owners and general manager Chaim Bloom have been in contact with Boras, as he is one of the franchise cornerstones.
The team does want him back for 2023 and well beyond that.
Will they get their man?
NEXT: James Paxton Has Made A Decision For 2023