Chris Sale doesn’t want to see the Red Sox let Xander Bogaerts slip away.
In an interview Monday with “The Greg Hill Show,” the Red Sox’ ace implored the team to work out a new contract with the 29-year-old shortstop. Bogaerts, who signed a six-year extension prior to the 2019 season, can opt-out of his contract following 2022.
“I understand the nature of the beast and the business that we are also around, but I’m just going to say it: We’ve gotta to keep Bogie,” said Sale. “We’ve got to. And I truly believe the Red Sox will find a way." (Sale starts talking about Bogaerts at the 18:15 mark):
Sale sounds a little more optimistic about the situation than Bogaerts. He told Rob Bradford recently on “The Bradfo Sho” podcast that he doesn’t think it’s likely an extension will get agreed upon before Opening Day. Bogaerts has said he doesn’t want to negotiate a new contract during the season.
“Is there any chance? I don’t really think so,” Bogaerts said.
The Red Sox inking Trevor Story to a six-year, $140 million contract indicates they may be comfortable letting Bogaerts walk. While Story will play second base this year, he’s played the bulk of his games at shortstop over his six-year career.
In addition to Bogaerts, the Red Sox are also facing decisions on Rafael Devers, whose contract expires after 2023, and Nathan Eovaldi, who’s in the final year of his deal.
Sale wants the Red Sox to keep both.
“I think we have enough guys around here who know what these guys mean to the organization and what they mean tot he success moving forward,” he said. “Maybe I’m wishful thinking. I obviously have a biased opinion. I’ve played with these guys, they’re friends of mine, they’re brothers of mine. I’d love to see them all stay, so I’m just gonna go ahead and say we’re going to keep them all.”
Sale is also confident Chaim Bloom will spend enough money to retain the team’s core pieces, despite his reputation for avoiding big financial commitments. In fact, Sale thinks that notion is unfounded.
“Chaim’s been a GM for what, like two years, so we know exactly how this guy constructs a team? You only give this guy three moves in a chess game and you just figure his whole game out?,” Sale said. “Seriously, think about that. When was — 2020 was his first year, right? And that wasn’t even real. Then 2021, and then this year. So this guy has two-and-half cracks at it, and you guys already know exactly his sound. Maybe ya’ll should be the GM.”
Sale says he’ll start throwing again this week. He suffered a rib cage stress fracture in late February.
