Xander Bogaerts has opted out of his contract with the Red Sox to become a free agent, and MLB.com is keeping track of the latest rumors surrounding the shortstop.
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This club could be a dark horse to sign Bogaerts
Xander Bogaerts has opted out of his contract with the Red Sox to become a free agent, and MLB.com is keeping track of the latest rumors surrounding the shortstop.
With Josh Bell, Brandon Drury and Wil Myers all entering free agency, the Padres have an opening at first base and reportedly were making José Abreu a top priority. However, Abreu is now off the market after signing a three-year deal with the Astros on Monday.
Although it’s possible San Diego will pivot to Bell, Drury or one of the other free-agent first basemen after missing out on Abreu, there’s a more outside-the-box solution that appears to be on the table for the club and might have become more realistic with the Abreu signing.
MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported last week in an article for the New York Post that the Padres “are a surprise team looking at shortstop” and have an interest in Bogaerts. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic backed up that notion on Tuesday when he reported that Padres general manager A.J. Preller had checked in (subscription required) with Bogaerts' agent, Scott Boras, about the four-time All-Star's willingness to play other infield positions.
With Fernando Tatis Jr. signed through 2034 and Ha-Seong Kim under contract through 2024 (he also has a 2025 mutual option), the Friars don’t seem to have a pressing need at short. However, San Diego would seemingly have interest in Bogaerts if he was willing to play first base or second in the short term. That would also provide the club insurance in case third baseman Manny Machado decides to opt out following the 2023 season.
It's also possible that signing the 30-year-old Bogaerts would open the door for Tatis moving to left, Kim to second and Jake Cronenworth to first.
Bogaerts is tied to Draft compensation after declining the Red Sox’s qualifying offer, so the Padres would need to forfeit their second- and fifth-highest selections in the 2023 Draft, plus $1 million from their international bonus pool, to sign him.
The Friars are also already close to the first Competitive Balance Tax threshold (set at $233 million in 2023). A Bogaerts deal could push them over the first and second thresholds ($253 million). After exceeding the CBT threshold in both 2021 and 2022, the Padres would be taxed 50% on all overages past the first threshold, then 45% on overages past the second threshold.