Interesting discussion in the Red Sox offseason thread about whether the Sox might sign Carlos Correa this offseason. Do you think they sign Correa or another shortstop? For context, here is some of the back and forth from that discussion.
EDIT: Adding a bit more context. Bogaerts is under contract for this season and then has an opt-out that he could exercise to become a free agent. He has reportedly expressed a willingness to move off of SS "down the road," although it is unclear what that time frame might actually be.
EDIT: Adding a bit more context. Bogaerts is under contract for this season and then has an opt-out that he could exercise to become a free agent. He has reportedly expressed a willingness to move off of SS "down the road," although it is unclear what that time frame might actually be.
However, I would be borderline shocked if they sign Correa, move Bogaerts to second against his wishes, and then just let him walk. I think people assuming this is going to happen are dramatically underestimating the degree to which the Sox, having already traded Mookie, will be sensitive to the perception that they will ruthlessly dump generational, face-of-the-franchise players whenever it suits them.
They aren't ruthlessly dumping Bogaerts. X has an opt out after this year and will definitely use it so the Sox will have to assume this is X's walk year. If they can get Carlos Correa, why not do it?
That's how you view the situation. But a large portion of the fanbase will not view it that way. People are very aware that Bogaers wants to continue to play shortstop for at least another couple of years. Signing someone else to play that position and moving him off of it will be read by many, many Red Sox fans as treating him poorly and effectively dumping him since he would likely not resign with the club. The point I made in my post is that the Red Sox will be very sensitive to the *perception* that they would be ruthlessly dumping Bogaerts like they did Mookie. Maybe Bloom will do it anyway, and I'm not saying it would be the wrong baseball move, but I think you're kidding yourself if you believe that fans will react to a Correa signing that pushes Xander off short and leads to his departure the following season as, "Well, he just didn't want to be here." I don't think the Red Sox believe that would be the reaction either.
I agree. If X goes (even if they get Correa) there's going to be a lot of really pissed off fans. Triple that if they lose Devers too. No matter who replaces them.
Fans can be wrong that way. They were wrong about the Mookie situation, for example. I'm sure a lot of them are, right now, wrong about the value of signing Correa instead of committing to Bogaerts at SS long-term. Bloom's job is to be right.
"When you start thinking like a fan, you will end up sitting with them."
--Terry Francona (and probably others before him).
Let me start by stating that I agree with you in your Mookie assessment. He's one of my five favorite ballplayers and I wish every day that he were still on the Sox, but given the situation, trading him was the right thing to do. But even here at SOSH, that trade remains very controversial in some quarters. Sports are about winning, yes, but they are also about entertainment, and most clubs are very sensitive to the marketing and engagement aspects of the business. Bloom's job is to be right about baseball. It's my opinion that others in the organization would be consulted about anything involving Bogaerts' future with the club.
I really have to disagree with pretty much everything you and others are saying. What makes the Mookie departure and a potential Xander departure different is who they have replacing the player. When you trade Betts and all you get back is Alex Verdugo and some minor league players, fans are going to have a problem with that. You dumped a MVP-caliber player and you didn't get a player close of his value in return. With a Bogaerts departure, you're getting back a player that is arguably better all around and is younger. I would have no problem getting Correa and either moving X to another position or trading him. And I'm speaking as someone who is a gigantic Bogaerts fan.
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