Ortiz warns Sox about Bogaerts
‘Would be stupid to let a guy like that go’
NEWTON » David Ortiz has a message for the Red Sox: Keep Xander Bogaerts.
The Red Sox legend and Baseball Hall of Famer — who played the last four seasons of his career with Bogaerts — knows firsthand just how much the franchise shortstop means to Boston and his value to the Sox as one of the game’s best talents.
And with speculation growing about Bogaerts’ future — he can opt out and become a free agent after this season — Ortiz is firm in his stance that the Red Sox’ shortstop shouldn’t be playing anywhere else.
“It would be stupid to let a guy like that go, to be honest with you,” Ortiz said Monday at Brae Burn Country Club, where he was hosting a celebrity golf tournament to benefit the David Ortiz Children’s Fund. “I’m telling you because I played with Bogey for a long time and Bogaerts is the perfect fit, perfect player for any organization. He will represent this organization on and off the field. So that conversation needs to take place at any time.”
Those conversations have reportedly begun.
Bogaerts signed a teamfriendly contract extension in 2019 that runs through 2025 with a club option for 2026, but the 29-year- old is expected to opt out of the contract after this season, when he would likely receive a bigger contract that aligns with other top shortstops. Before this season started, the Red Sox, according to the New York Post, offered Bogaerts an additional year
at $30 million to his existing contract, which would effectively pay him $90 million over four years.
Bogaerts declined that reported offer, and didn’t seem happy when he was asked on Opening Day if the Sox offered him an extension.
“It didn’t work out,” Bogaerts said.
The lack of a deal has opened the door for constant speculation about Bogaerts’ future to start this season. Bogaerts said on Opening Day that he’s not interested in negotiating during the season — and thus far, he’s let his play do the talking as he pushes his expected price up. He’s batting .325 with an .842 OPS through 40 games this season as he continues to lead the Red Sox on and off the field as their de facto captain.
Ortiz understands the worth of the three-time All- Star, fourtime Silver Slugger and two-time
World Series champion.
“To me, he’s one of the most complete players and shortstops in the game as of right now,” Ortiz said. “He does a little bit of everything. He’s a good clubhouse guy. He’s a hard-working dude. Everybody loves him. You have never heard a coin drop about that guy. So he’s perfect for this organization. The Red Sox, I believe they’re going to take a moment to sit down and have that conversation with him to keep him around. That’s a keeper.
“That guy is a keeper. Believe it or not. I don’t want to hear the B. S. that there’s somebody else out there in the market better. I know what I’m getting from Bogaerts. That’s why I want Bogaerts.
“I know what I’m getting from him. I prefer to take that over, ‘ Let’s see what is coming.’ In my clubhouse, on my team, I want him at shortstop for the next whatever (number of years) because I know what I’m getting from him.”
Ortiz has been paying close attention to the Red Sox, too. Though they started the season slow, he’s confident they’ll be playing well into October, especially after their 6-1 homestand last week.
“I can tell you right now, we’re going to be in the playoffs,” Ortiz said. “I can tell you right now. I got that feeling. …
“My man getting hot, Trevor (Story). I think it’s a good sign,” Ortiz continued. “It’s a good sign for the offense. Then you got J.D. ( Martinez), ( Rafael) Devers, Bogaerts doing their thing. Baseball is all about environment and chemistry. If you got the good chemistry and the good environment going on, everybody starts walking in the same direction. And I think it’s at that point right now where it seems like they’re walking in the right direction. We just need to start paying a little bit more attention to our division, try to either split or win series against them and that will take you to the promised land. …
“Where they’re at right now and what happened in the beginning, it made me feel really good about what’s coming.”
Ortiz, who will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on July 24, was in town to cohost the golf tournament for his Children’s Fund and raise funds for its mission of providing lifesaving heart surgeries and care for children around New England and the Dominican Republic. Former Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask, World Series champions Gary Sheffield and Manny Delcarmen, and Red Sox Hall of Famers Jim Rice and Jim Lonborg were among those also on hand.