This season’s MLB free agency period has featured the shortstop position first and foremost. Here are the four major contracts, ranked.
As I started writing this story, Trea Turner had signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. Xander Bogaerts had signed with the San Diego Padres. Dansby Swanson had signed with the Chicago Cubs. And Carlos Correa had a deal in place with the San Francisco Giants, pending physical.
Then on Tuesday afternoon, the Giants raised concerns with Correa’s physical and requested additional opinions. By Tuesday night, Correa’s agent, Scott Boras, was negotiating with other teams. By early Wednesday morning, while most of the baseball world was asleep, Boras and Mets owner Steve Cohen agreed on a 12-year, $315 million contract to bring Correa to New York.
Hoo boy.
With each of the four high-profile shortstops signed, it’s time to rank each of the moves. So let’s get to it…
No. 4: Xander Bogaerts, San Diego Padres: 11 years, $280 million
This was the “wow” deal of the offseason.
It became increasingly clear in the days leading up to the Winter Meetings that Bogaerts wouldn’t return to the Boston Red Sox. Their offer was not what Bogaerts or his agent, Scott Boras, deemed close to his value. And then after the Padres missed on Trea Turner, their top target in free agency, general manager A.J. Preller shifted his focus toward Aaron Judge … and then to Bogaerts.
Then at the Winter Meetings, Preller and the Padres signed Bogaerts to a stunning 11-year, $280 million contract. The Padres, of course, had ample infield options internally — Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Jake Cronenworth, Ha-Seong Kim, among others — but coveted Bogaerts for his offensive, defense and his leadership skills in the clubhouse.
The deal was viewed as an overpay by rival executives but was the latest example of Preller and team chairman Peter Seidler willing to stretch the budget to new levels in order to reach a World Series. For that, I commend them. Baseball needs more teams that operate that way.
I just thought they could have signed Bogaerts for less and used the money saved to upgrade other parts of the roster.