Padres Reportedly Could Trade Ex-Red Sox Star Xander Bogaerts, Is Reunion Possible?

Would Boston bring the homegrown star back?

Scott Neville | Nov 5, 2023

Padres Reportedly Could Trade Ex-Red Sox Star Xander Bogaerts, Is Reunion Possible? /

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Could the Boston Red Sox re-acquire Xander Bogaerts just one season after he departed?

Bogaerts signed an 11-year, $280 million contract ($25.45 million average annual value) with the San Diego Padres last winter during the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings. At that point, it sounded as if he'd retire out West.

Now, the Padres' financial issues have put that conclusion in jeopardy.

"If (the Padres) have to make some tough decisions, GMs say, they wouldn’t be surprised to see the Padres dangle shortstop Xander Bogaerts and outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. in creative deals to avoid trading (Juan) Soto," USA Today's Bob Nightengale wrote Sunday.

Would the Red Sox potentially be in play for their former homegrown star and unofficial captain? If the Padres were to absorb a chunk of the salary, it would make sense.

Bogaerts hit .285 with 52 extra-base hits including 19 home runs, 58 RBIs and a .790 OPS (120 OPS+) in 155 games last season.

The Aruban product posted a serviceable -4 defensive runs saved and three outs above average at shortstop in San Diego. He posted five defensive runs saved and five outs above average in his final year with the Red Sox, though the old shifting rules aided those numbers.

If the Red Sox were to slide Bogaerts to second base, it would be a rare opportunity to slot an above-average right-handed bat up the middle to further balance the lineup.

Then Boston could decide whether to re-sign Justin Turner or sign another impact right-handed hitter to play outfield and move Masataka Yoshida to the designated hitter role.

A trade for Bogaerts would make sense for the Red Sox in 2024 but the organization would be committing to a 31-year-old through the 2033 season.

Given Bogaerts chronic wrist issues, that would be a disaster waiting to happen. Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow should make a call about his former teammate but only seriously consider a trade if the Padres were willing to payout at least half of the deal. Considering the point of a trade would be financially motivated, that sounds unlikely.

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Published Nov 5, 2023

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