If the Boston Red Sox were to sign Carlos Correa, it would hurt Xander Bogaerts value. Both are Scott Boras clients, making this a major conflict of interest.
Bogaerts will want a contract extension at some point in the near future, especially as the shortstop market continues to increase with each passing season. The Red Sox pay Bogaerts about $20 million per season, and he’s signed through 2026, so they’re not under a lot of pressure to negotiate with him.
If anything, Boston would prefer to sign a player of Correa’s caliber, especially defensively, and offload Bogaerts. They have greater concerns.
However, as Ken Rosenthal notes, trading Bogaerts away isn’t so easy:
“The challenge of moving Bogaerts also includes his full no-trade protection and his ranking among the worst defenders at short in 2021, according to two leading measures Outs Above Average and Defensive Runs Saved. The plot is further thickened by Correa’s recent switch to agent Scott Boras, who — ahem — also represents Bogaerts.“
Red Sox: Scott Boras could prevent Carlos Correa to Boston
The Red Sox are more likely to extend Rafael Devers than Bogaerts. Considering Bogaerts poor defensive abilities, he could be asked to eventually make a position change. Signing a defensively-gifted shortstop like Correa would only expedite matters.
For Boras himself, though, this doesn’t make a lot of sense. Boston signing Correa is great for him, but it doesn’t help Bogaerts in the slightest. He’d either be a great teammate and take on a position change, thus hurting his value, or want to be traded elsewhere.
Either way, that’s less money for Bogaerts and Boras as well through his cut.
Not to mention, Chaim Bloom isn’t exactly known for giving out hefty contracts, even dating back to his days with the Tampa Bay Rays. One player can change all of that, but if Correa truly wants over $330 million, the best bet is on it not being in Boston.