Categories: Rumors

Phillies reportedly have ‘real interest’ in Xander Bogaerts

Xander Bogaerts is a free agent. (Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire)

The Philadelphia Phillies got good returns after signing Kyle Schwarber away from the Boston Red Sox last offseason. Perhaps they’ll go back to that well again this winter.

According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, the Phillies “are believed to have real interest” in free-agent shortstop Xander Bogaerts. This is the second time that the Phillies have been connected to Bogaerts, as Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe reported in September that the Phillies would be “eager suitors” if the four-time All-Star reached the free-agent market this offseason.

Of course, that has happened, as Bogaerts opted out of the remaining three years of a six-year/$120 million deal earlier this month. The five-time Silver Slugger Award winner signed that deal in April of 2019, when current Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski was leading the front office in Boston.

Despite the Red Sox traditionally being one of the biggest spenders in the sport, there appears to be a real chance that Chaim Bloom and company don’t re-sign Bogaerts. In April, Heyman reported that Bogaerts was offered an additional year for $30 million on top of the three years and $60 million left on his deal that he ultimately opted out of. Someone close to Bogaerts called the offer a “slap in the face.” Heyman updated his reporting earlier this week, suggesting that there was still quite a bit of work to be done for the two sides to reach a deal.

And that’s where the Phillies come in.

Jean Segura’s $17 million option was declined earlier this week, triggering a $1 million buyout for the 2023 season. It also opened the door for the Phillies to become players in a shortstop class that features Bogaerts, Trea Turner, Dansby Swanson and Carlos Correa. If the Phillies land one of those four, Bryson Stott will shift to second base.

Turner was connected to the Phillies all season long, and that buzz has only heated up in recent days. His fit — taking over at shortstop, hitting at the top of the lineup — is clear. He’s the top pick of most fans, and there’s no reason to believe that he isn’t No. 1 on the offseason wishlist for the Phillies.

But maybe Turner will re-sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Maybe another team will come through with an offer that the Phillies aren’t comfortable matching. It’s always good to keep your options open.

And Bogaerts would be a hell of a fallback option for the Phillies. He slashed .307/.377/.456 with 15 home runs, 73 RBIs, 57 walks, .833 OPS and a 6.1 WAR, per FanGraphs

Defensive metrics haven’t typically been kind to Bogaerts, as he has -51 defensive runs saved and -34 outs above average. However, Bogaerts was a Gold Glove Award finalist after posting four defensive runs saved and five outs above average in 2022, perfect timing before a contract year.

Bogearts recently turned 30, so he is the oldest of the four star shortstops that are free agents this offseason. With that said, he may very well sign for a shorter term than either Correa or Turner. MLB Trade Rumors has Correa projected to sign for nine years and Turner for eight, while pegging Bogaerts at a seven-year/$189 million deal.