Chaim Bloom On Xander Bogaerts: 'Type Of Guy You Want To Have Here'

Bogaerts can opt-out at the end of the season.

Scott Neville | Sep 21, 2022

Chaim Bloom On Xander Bogaerts: 'Type Of Guy You Want To Have Here' /

In this story:

Boston Red Sox

Will the Boston Red Sox pay up for shortstop Xander Bogaerts when he inevitably opts out of his current contract?

The 29-year-old slugger has been a staple of the Red Sox since he debuted in 2013 but could be approaching his final days as a member of the organization. Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom has expressed interest in keeping Bogaerts in Boston but has yet to budge on a deal.

Bloom was asked about Bogey's value and gave an interesting response.

"I will put it this way: Normally when you look at players at the point in their career that he is getting to, on paper that is usually the time to get off the bus," Bloom told Rob Bradford on WEEI's "Bradfo Sho" on Monday "To me, it’s basically a threshold issue. It’s because of all those things he brings that he is the type of guy you want to have here for a long time. That you want to have here hopefully for his whole career."

It sounds as if Bloom would typically be weary of extending a player just weeks away from his 30th birthday, but is willing to make an exception for Bogaerts. Bloom also explained how important it is to have a leader of Bogaerts' caliber in a big-market city like Boston where the lights are brighter and the pressure is heavier.

Every Red Sox representative has sung the same tune regarding their desire to retain Bogaerts, but a deal has yet to be reached. Still, there is plenty of time for the organization to finalize a new deal before their unofficial captain tests free agency in November.

Bogaerts is hitting .315 with 38 doubles, 14 home runs, 68 RBIs and a .855 OPS in 138 games. Some are calling this a down year, which speaks to his talent.

More MLB: Chaim Bloom Explains Why He'd Sign Rafael Devers Over Mookie Betts

Published Sep 21, 2022

SCOTT NEVILLE

Scott Neville covers the Boston Red Sox for Sports Illustrated's new page "Inside The Red Sox." Before starting "Inside The Red Sox", Neville attended Merrimack College, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media with a minor in Marketing. Neville spent all four years with Merrimack's radio station WMCK, where he grew as a radio/podcast host and producer. His propensity for being in front of a microphone eventually expanded to film, where he produced multiple short films alongside his then-roommate and current co-worker Stephen Mottram. On a journey that began as a way to receive easy credits via film classes, he received a call from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" star Charlie Day. Day advised him to make a feature-length film, which he completed his senior year. While writing the film, Neville completed an internship for United Way as part of their NFL Partnership Program. Neville ran the blog for a team of interns and hosted an internet show called "United Way's NFL Partnership Series" where he interviewed NFL alumni. After college Neville wrote for SB Nation's "Over The Monster," a Red Sox sister site of the flagship brand. His work would eventually lead him to a job as a content producer with NESN, where he would cover all sports. After developing as a writer with the top regional network in the world, he was given the opportunity to join the Sports Illustrated Media Group in his current endeavor as the publisher of "Inside The Red Sox." The successful launch and quick rise of "Inside The Red Sox" led to Neville joining the Baseball Essential ownership group, a national baseball site under SIMG. Follow him on Twitter: @ScottNeville46 Email: nevilles@merrimack.edu