What the hell is going on with the Boston Red Sox?
The San Diego Padres and shortstop Xander Bogaerts reached a deal on Dec. 7 that is worth $280 million over 11 years, according to MLB Network and ESPN. The move further loads up a Padres ball club that is already riddled with talent.
Closing out Major League Baseball‘s action-packed winter meetings, the deal brings Bogaerts to a San Diego team that already has Manny Machado, Juan Soto and Fernando Tatis Jr. on the roster. Bogaerts is the second homegrown talent Boston has lost in the last two years, after the club traded Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020. Bogaerts became a free agent after opting out of the final three years of his Red Sox contract.
BREAKING: Xander Bogaerts is reportedly heading out West to join the Padres on an 11-year deal. pic.twitter.com/dENAodvbWk
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 8, 2022
Breaking: Shortstop Xander Bogaerts and the San Diego Padres are in agreement on an 11-year, $280 million contract.
First reported by MLB Network, confirmed by @JeffPassan. pic.twitter.com/YlTjArIkh4
— ESPN (@espn) December 8, 2022
Sure, the Red Sox stole Kenley Jansen from my Atlanta Braves on Dec. 7 (a day that will live in infamy), and they also signed Masataka Yoshida out of Japan, but what is bringing in talent going to do when other talent — marquee talent at that — is heading out the back door?
Boston is so out of whack right now.
What they’re doing makes absolutely no sense. You’d think that with a losing season in 2022 and being dead last in the AL East, the Red Sox would want to hang on to all of their talent and beef up their roster through free agency. Well, they’re doing the latter, but for some strange reason, they let Bogaerts walk. You have to remember, Bogaerts is the same guy who’s been with this franchise from the get-go, and for 10 years at that, helping propel the Red Sox to two World Series championships. Why on earth would you let somebody like that just leave? (RELATED: Aaron Judge Re-Signs With The New York Yankees On 9-Year, $360 Million Deal)
It makes zero sense.
And what’s up with the trend of showing their homegrown superstar talent the exit?
Maybe they’re stealing a page out of the New England Patriots playbook and getting rid of guys before they get too old. Either that, or they’re just being really stupid. Regardless, I don’t see this working out too well for Boston.
What a mess.