Will history repeat itself with Bogaerts, Dever?
All-Star week always provides plenty of photo opportunities, as the best players of today along with many legends of the past all unite for the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game.
But one photo that surfaced Monday evening really stood out if you’re a Red Sox fan.
Yep, that’s Red Sox All-stars Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers and J.D. Martinez hanging out with Royals All-Star Andrew Benintendi and Dodgers All-Star Mookie Betts.
Of course, it wasn’t long ago that all five were teammates in Boston, helping to lead the Red Sox to a World Series title in 2018 and the best record in franchise history.
But then in Feb. 2020, the Red Sox traded Betts for Alex Verdugo, Jeter Downs and Connor Wong. A year later, they shipped out Benintendi for Franchy Cordero, Josh Winckowski and three lower-level minor-leaguers.
What makes this photo even sadder for Red Sox fans is that it’s not hard to envision none of these five being on the team in the not-too-distant future.
Martinez is a free agent after this season, and it’s unclear if the Red Sox will have any interest in bringing back the soon-to-be 35-year-old designated hitter.
Bogaerts can opt out of his contract after this season and become a free agent. He is expected to do so. Given that the Red Sox reportedly low-balled Bogaerts and signed usual shortstop/current second baseman Trevor Story this spring, the writing is on the wall when it comes to a potential Bogaerts exit.
Devers would be a free agent after the 2023 season if the two sides don’t agree to an extension before then. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported in April that they were more than $100 million apart. The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier reported on Monday that the Red Sox identified Matt Olson’s eight-year, $168 million as a comparison. Which, yeah, is probably at least $100 million off. Again, it’s not hard to envision Devers ending up elsewhere if Boston is unwilling to significantly increase its offer.
Moral of the story: Enjoy your Red Sox stars while you can. Under this new fiscally conservative approach from ownership and management, there’s no guarantee they’ll be here much longer.
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