Every week from tonight, Xander Bogaerts will likely be on the clock. The Red Sox season could have reached its merciful conclusion.
“X” marks the spot the place the Red Sox possession should do no matter it takes to verify Bogaerts will likely be with Boston when the crew opens camp in what’s left of Fort Myers come February.
There’s no have to dig again 100+ years when lamenting the homegrown greats who slipped by means of the fingers of the Red Sox earlier than their expiration date.
Carlton Fisk. Fred Lynn. Jeff Bagwell. Roger Clemens. Wade Boggs. Jon Lester.
And, in fact, Mookie Betts.
There are others, however we’re area restricted.
Trading Betts ought to have been a breaking level for thousands and thousands throughout Red Sox Nation. And for some, it was. But the House of Henry obtained off the hook just a few weeks later when Tom Brady seceded from the Patriots and jumped ship to the Buccaneers on the daybreak of a pandemic.
Losing Betts stays an obscured baseball disaster. Losing Bogaerts this offseason, and/or Raffy Devers previous to 2024 will likely be not possible to cover.
Betts begins his third postseason in three years with the Dodgers subsequent month.
State Run Media mocks those that acknowledge the success former Red Sox gamers — particularly those that have been the face of the franchise — get pleasure from as soon as they depart city. And solely Baseball Neanderthals overlook the distinctive worth the Red Sox obtained for Betts.
Or so I’ve been informed on Twitter.
The 2022 Red Sox will end in final place for the second time within the three seasons since Betts discovered his slice of heaven in Southern California.
This time, we are able to’t blame COVID. Or Ron Roenicke.
Betts’ common will likely be a profession low (.268 heading into Wednesday) this season, however he’s ripped 35 dwelling runs, logged 85 RBI, and leads the National League with 112 runs scored. His play within the subject stays as stellar and pristine as you bear in mind.
Devers leads the Red Sox with 27 HR, 85 RBI and 80 runs scored. He’ll be gone quickly sufficient. But right this moment’s concern is his wing man and BFF Bogaerts.
The Red Sox signed their All-Star shortstop in 2009 when he was simply 16. Bogaerts has been on 5 completely different playoff groups with Boston and received rings in 2013 and ’18.
Bogaerts has an opt-out after this season. The Red Sox failed to finish a deal earlier than the season however opted to not commerce him on the deadline. The most up-to-date supply made public was a humiliation for all sides.
Now the Red Sox are ready the place they need to signal Bogaerts or get subsequent to nothing in return. The easy “draft pick compensation” system has been dismantled and changed with one thing akin to the IRS tax code. Bogaerts would probably yield the Red Sox a third-round decide, relying on how a lot he makes on his subsequent contract.
The scary factor is that there are these on John Henry’s payroll who can be simply high-quality with that.
Lowballing homegrown expertise can come at a grave price. And not simply in Boston. The Yankees tried for a reduction on Aaron Judge earlier than the season. The Bombers provided Judge a princely sum. But he wager on himself and now instructions a Home Run King’s ransom.
If Judge doesn’t break the MLB Bank, somebody must sound the collusion alarm.
This is only a numbers sport for Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer and Designated Henry Fall Guy Chaim Bloom. That’s accurately. Unfortunately for Bloom, the numbers this yr have been horrible. Bloom is saying the precise issues, form of.
Yet if Henry have been to be roused from his cryogenic stupor and demand Bogaerts stay in Boston at any cheap price, the difficulty can be resolved.
When (OK, if) the Red Sox are unable to come back to a take care of Bogaerts, it will likely be as a result of the crew failed to satisfy the market worth.
The contract worth of any free agent is set by no matter somebody is prepared to pay him. If one crew pays Bogaerts $35 million a yr for eight years, then that’s what he’s price.
Period.
Nothing else issues. Not the musing of Henry in a press launch. Not the dazzling stats thrown out by the Red Sox entrance workplace and their media acolytes. Not the great needs and thanks expressed towards Bogaerts for his years of service and success with the Red Sox.
And all that will likely be provided with a robust whiff of condescension.
We will in the end be requested to imagine the Red Sox, a crew whose payroll was nonetheless $234.5 million this season, did the whole lot of their energy to maintain Bogaerts.
Imagine a fictional dinner dialog between Mr. & Mrs. Henry in a post-Bogaerts world whereas the fan base self-immolates to maintain heat this winter as heating oil hits $5 a gallon: “Lovey, why are the plebs so upset? We gave them four World Series titles, Tessie, and Globe Summit Week. I even bought an ice-ball team. What else do these knuckle-dragging, mouth-breathing cretins want?”
Scott Boras’ illustration offers the Red Sox a ready-made out with the baseball intelligentsia regardless that Bogaerts has made it clear he merely wishes a good deal that locations him close to the highest of his place pay clever.
Some engaged on Jersey Street acknowledge the significance of Bogaerts on the sector, within the lineup, inside the mechanics of the clubhouse, and to the steadiness and help the crew enjoys among the many multitudes.
The “X Factor” is plain to anybody who cares to look.
For these of a sure age, the road from Fisk to Clemens to Betts to (doubtlessly) Bogaerts and Devers is unbreakable. The tolerance degree diminishes with every loss. In a way, we’ve been enjoying with home cash since 2004.
Walking away has by no means been simpler.
Bill Speros (@RealOBF) may be reached at [email protected]
Source: www.bostonherald.com