When Jon Heyman's report of what the Red Sox offered Xander Bogaerts in terms of a contract extension came out Wednesday, it brought back memories of a scenario we simply didn't think we would see again.
Jon Lester.
Back in 2014, during an April series at Yankee Stadium, word trickled out that the Red Sox had offered Lester - who would be eligible for free agency after that season - four years and $70 million.
The leak came not from Lester, but from his teammates, who knew of the pitcher's importance and worth and also realized the Red Sox' approach was the opposite way to recognize all of it.
Now comes Bogaerts.
That last line should have resonated. "A friend of Bogaerts Boston's bid as a 'slap in the face.'"
Well, using the landscape of the decision potentially facing Bogaerts at the end of the 2022 season, the sentiment can be understood. Why $30 million is obviously a ton of money for playing one season of baseball, it is ONE season of playing baseball. If Bogaerts decides to hit free agency after this season, he is not signing a deal for $70 million over three years, landing him at the age of 33 years old.
For context, one of the shortstops Bogaerts is hoping to lumped in with, Carlos Correa, is living life with a three-year deal worth $30.5 million more than what the Red Sox are offering the Sox veteran, who reportedly wouldn't be living with the opt-outs Correa has in his deal.
Until now, we didn't have full context regarding the resignation displayed by Bogaerts first on the Bradfo Sho Podcast, and then his Yankee Stadium press conference last Thursday. Now we might have an idea why.
It is becoming clearer that Bogaerts' existence in Boston might very well be limited to one more season. Trevor Story, while a great fit in the here and now alongside the current shortstop, is also leverage in the Bogaerts' negotiations. There is no other way to look at it.
But, like in the Lester situation, there is a sentiment in the clubhouse that the Red Sox front office isn't viewing the Bogaerts situation in a proper light. A hint at that was Chris Sale's comments on the Greg Hill Show, with the pitcher saying, "I'm just going to say it, we've got to keep Bogey. We've got to."
Even if the years and numbers aren't exact, it isn't difficult to dissect the overall tone of the situation. That was clear when Bogaerts' tone over the last two weeks. And now there is this revelation.
They spend. No doubt about that. But the tendency has always been to go all-in for the unknown, and come up short with the proven commodities. This has been an undeniable organizational trend.
And now ... It feels all too familiar.