The San Diego Padres stole shortstop Xander Bogaerts away from the Boston Red Sox, and they may have broken chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom.
The San Diego Padres watched as the MLB Winter Meetings took place in their city, and they wanted to get an agreement with one of the top free agents available. After striking out on shortstop Trea Turner and outfielder Aaron Judge, they set their focus on Xander Bogaerts of the Boston Red Sox. On the final night, the Padres and Bogaerts agreed to terms on a massive 11-year, $280 million contract.
Red Sox fans dreaded the possibility of Bogaerts leaving in free agency, but it eventually happened. As it turns out, there were high-level figures in the organization who were stunned.
The Boston Globe’s Julian McWilliams detailed the reaction of Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom, who found out the news of Bogaerts leaving for the Padres while at San Diego International Airport. Specifically, Bloom stared off into space and told McWilliams “give me a minute” multiple times, while processing the move.
Chaim Bloom stunned after Xander Bogaerts left Red Sox for Padres
“Everybody is sad that he’s not going to be a part of the organization,” Bloom said, h/t McWilliams of the Boston Globe. “We’re incredibly grateful for him. For everything he’s accomplished here and what he helped this organization accomplish.”
According to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe, the Red Sox offered Bogaerts a six-year contract around $160 million. Additionally, the Boston Globe’s Pete Abraham reported that there were three-to-four teams that were willing to go over $200 million in a deal for Bogaerts.
This is now the second homegrown talent that Red Sox fans are seeing leave. The previous player was Mookie Betts, who was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers and subsequently signed a 12-year, $365 million contract.
Bloom knows that there will be backlash, but he told McWilliams that he expects the Red Sox to still have a winning team in 2023.
“I expect fans will be hurt,” Bloom said, h/t the Boston Globe. “I fully expect that, and I also expect that we’re going to put this together and deliver them winning baseball. It’s going to look a little different than it would have with Xander. But it’s going to happen and it’s on us to show them. That’s our job.”
Red Sox fans were obviously stunned by the news of Bogaerts leaving. As it turns out, Bloom had that exact same reaction.