Xander Bogaerts Certainly Sounds Like He's About To End Red Sox Tenure

Bogey took some time to reflect after Tuesday's win

Scott Neville | Oct 5, 2022

Xander Bogaerts Certainly Sounds Like He's About To End Red Sox Tenure /

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Boston Red Sox

Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts all but ensured that he will be opting out of his current deal this offseason, something educated fans have known for a long time.

Bogaerts reflected on the growth he has made on and off the field during his 10-year career in Boston.

"I’m proud of the man I’ve become. I remember coming here as a little kid and was afraid of being on the field in the postseason. I remember," Bogaerts told reporters, as transcribed by MassLive's Chris Cotillo on Tuesday.

The reflection came after hitting a grand slam over the Green Monster off of Tampa Bay Rays reliever Colin Poche in what might have been his final big moment as a member of the Red Sox.

Watch Red Sox's Xander Bogaerts Belt Grand Slam Over Green Monster Vs. Rays

While the uncertainty surrounding Bogaerts is cause for emotion, the Red Sox have said all the right things to make fans believe they will pursue their longtime shortstop this winter.

Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom made it clear that he wants to keep Bogaerts in Boston for the rest of his career, while manager Alex Cora said they are preparing as if he will return next season.

It's clear that Boston means a lot to Bogaerts, who built his entire career with the organization after signing with the club at just 16 years old.

When Bogey does opt out of his deal, that will not mean his time with the Red Sox is over, but it will mark a pivotal point between the two sides.

To make matters more difficult for a reunion, there is expected to be a hefty market for premier shortstops, with at least eight teams reportedly in the mix for the unofficial captain of the Red Sox.

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Published Oct 5, 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