In SAN DIEGO, California — With the signing of All-Star shortstop Xander Bogaerts to a record-setting 11-year, $280 million contract by the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night, the team bolstered an already formidable lineup.
A source close to the talks who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity verified the contract after it passed a physical.
While Fernando Tatis Jr. was a natural fit at shortstop for the Padres, he was sidelined for the entire 2022 campaign due to injuries and an 80-game ban for PED use.
Before the superstars decided to sign with other teams, the Padres also spoke with Aaron Judge and Trea Turner. In 2018, the Padres advanced to the National League Championship Series, where they ultimately fell to the Philadelphia Phillies.
A.J. Preller, the general manager, had previously said, “From our side, you want to explore and make sure we’re looking at every conceivable possibility to get better,” before news of the Bogaerts deal broke. We want to win, and we want to win for an extended period.
Along with Turner, Carlos Correa, and Dansby Swanson, 30-year-old Bogaerts stood out among a quality group of free-agent shortstops. Turner signed with the Phillies this week to the tune of $300 million over 11 years.
After the season, Aruba native Xander Bogaerts decided to end his six-year, $120 million contract with the Boston Red Sox. After hitting, the four-time All-Star was forced to give up $20 million in annual salary for the next three years. He hit.307 in 150 games, with 15 homers and 73 RBIs.
In his 10 years in the major leagues, all with the Boston Red Sox, Bogaerts has a.292 batting average, 156 home runs, and 683 RBIs. He was instrumental in the 2013 and 2018 World Series victories for the Boston Red Sox.
After the Red Sox dealt Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers in February 2020, Bogaerts is the most prominent experienced hitter to leave Boston. It will be another year before Rafael Devers can enter the free agent market and be subject to arbitration.
In 2019, Bogaerts hit.309 with a career-high 33 home runs and 117 RBIs, all of which were highs for him in the major leagues. With 103 runs batted in, he was a major contributor to the team’s success with 23 home runs.
Bogaerts has hit.231 with five home runs and 16 RBIs in 44 postseason games.
From Doha, Blum filed a report.
