Sox enter the season under pressure
Bogaerts on offer: ‘It didn’t work out’
NEW YORK — It’s World Series or bust, Red Sox manager Alex Cora has said several times this spring.
You can say that again.
The Yankees will host their rivals for Opening Day today at 1 p.m. as Gerrit Cole takes the mound against Nathan Eovaldi in a rematch of last year’s American League Wild Card Game.
“I’m super excited, honored to be able to be in this position, to start it off for us,” Eovaldi said.
And with that, here come the 2022 Red Sox in what is almost certain to be their last season with Eovaldi, J.D. Martinez, Kiké Hernandez, Christian Vazquez and, most importantly, franchise shortstop Xander Bogaerts.
Bogaerts said the Sox offered him an extension that he rejected and he was not interested in negotiating in the middle of the season.
“It didn’t work out,” he said. He can (and should) opt out of his remaining three years, $60 million on his contract after the season, when he can hit the free agent market and vie for a deal with a $25-35 million annual salary a la the contracts recently signed by Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, Francisco Lindor and Marcus Semien.
Since the start of 2018, Bogaerts’ .897 OPS ranks first among all qualified shortstops, but he’s been paid $20 million, less than the annual average value of six other shortstops in the game.
The Sox paid market rate for shortstop Trevor Story this winter, but were clearly not willing to do that for Bogaerts, who should command at least a contract of Story’s stature next offseason.
“I can’t do nothing about it right now,” Bogaerts said. “I have a season coming up in front of me. I don’t want to put any of our teammates in that type of distraction, they don’t deserve it. We had time to get something done and it didn’t work out.
“Just go back to baseball. We had a great year last year. Expectations are high this year and we have to go out and finish the job.”
The unfortunate news of Bogaerts’ failed extension talks put a damper on a soggy day in the Bronx, where Opening Day was supposed to take place on Thursday before the weather postponed it to Friday.
That, combined with a report out of the Dominican Republic that Rafael Devers also rejected an extension by the Red Sox this spring, offered a sharp reminder that 2022 could be the last season that the Sox’ core remains in tact.
“I can’t really be thinking about that right now,” Bogaerts said. “It is what it is. I really do have a season to prepare for, going out there with the guys and leading us to a really good season.”
The Sox shelled out $140 million over six years for Story, who will become Bogaerts’ primary double play partner at second base, a position he hasn’t played since his time in the minor leagues.
“I think it’ll work out great,” Bogaerts said. “He’s a tremendous athlete. Definitely has some soft hands at second base. He’s so fast and so quick. I think it’ll go pretty smooth for him. Maybe some throws from a little deeper might be tough in the beginning, just getting used to the way you turn, because every way you turn now is the opposite from shortstop. He’s an athlete and he’ll handle that for sure.”
Eovaldi, who has said he’d like to stay in Boston after this season, said that Story has already fit easily into the Red Sox clubhouse.
“He does a great job making us feel more like a family in there,” Eovaldi said.
Cora compared the new second baseman to an old one, Dustin Pedroia.
“He’s very similar to Dustin in a sense of the structure, the game, the way he sees the game,” the skipper said. “We like it. He asks a lot of questions. He’s a guy who is very aware of what’s going on as a team. And we’re looking forward to learning more from him.”
Cora plans on hitting Story sixth against right-handed pitchers and second against lefties.
“I think to have him still there (as a free agent) at that time, I don’t want to say we got lucky, but to have that caliber of a player sign that late is really good for us,” Cora said. “He’s adjusting to second base… I told him yesterday, ‘hey man, you don’t have to carry this offense. This offense is really good. Just do your part and you’ll make us better.’
“Expectations are way up there but it’s the same expectations he has as a baseball player.”
The Red Sox made it to within two wins of the World Series in 2021 after back-to-back disappointing seasons in ‘19 and ‘20. Anything less than a World Series appearance this season will surely be a disappointment, given they’re likely losing a big chunk of their core to free agency.
“It’s going to be a challenge, but we’re ready for it,” Cora said.