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Boston Red Sox: Chaim Bloom on what’s holding up a Xander Bogaerts deal

By Kevin Henry

Aug 29, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) fields a ground ball against the Minnesota Twins in the second inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 29, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) fields a ground ball against the Minnesota Twins in the second inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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One of the biggest questions constantly asked of Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom is when a long-term contract extension for Xander Bogaerts could become a reality. Now we know what is keeping Bogaerts and Red Sox from knowing exactly what the future could hold for both parties.

Here is what keeping the Boston Red Sox from announcing a contract extension for Xander Bogaerts

There has been plenty of talk about the 29-year-old Bogaerts opting out of his current contract after this season, especially with Boston adding Trevor Story in the offseason through free agency. Bogaerts made $20 million in 2022 and is scheduled to make the same amount in 2023 if he takes the player option. However, with fellow shortstops Corey Seager, Carlos Correa, and Francisco Lindor each scheduled to make more than $33 million on an annual basis this season, Bogaerts is seeing the potential for a raise with an extension.

Heading into Thursday’s game, Bogaerts is leading the American League in batting average at .315 while slashing .315/.382/.466 with 12 home runs and 63 RBI. He leads the Boston Red Sox with 5.2 bWAR.

So what is holding up a potential contract extension? Bloom told Audacy’s WEEI 93.7 in Boston on Thursday morning that it was all about finding something that would work for not only the franchise but the player as well.

“It’s a question of finding the right deal,” Bloom said. “We have a couple of guys that I get asked about a lot who we want to find those right deals with. Obviously we haven’t yet or we would have an agreement, but we still want to.”

Bloom wouldn’t tip his hand on if conversations with Bogaerts and his representatives was currently happening, but he did say that with the Red Sox entering the end of the season, it was easier now to look ahead to next season than it might have been in previous months.

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You can hear the entire interview with Bloom by clicking below, with the section on Bogaerts starting at the 8:46 mark.

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