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Xander Bogaerts has made a decision on his contract option

Xander Bogaerts is now in line to become a free agent, after officially opting out of the remaining three years of his contract Monday morning

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 09: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the Boston Red Sox rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 09, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 09: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the Boston Red Sox rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 09, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Greg Fiume/Getty Images

In a move that has been projected since the beginning of the season, Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts has made the decision to opt out of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent. Bogaerts' name was included in a list of opt-outs released by the MLBPA Monday morning.

The Red Sox now have until Nov. 9 to exclusively negotiate a new contract with Bogaerts. He'll officially become an unrestricted free agent free to speak with all 30 teams when MLB free agency begins on Nov. 10.

Bogaerts, 30, signed his current contract as a six-year, $120 million deal back in 2019. That deal pays him $20 million dollars a year, which made him the league's fifth-highest paid shortstop last year.

However, shortstops contracts soared last offseason, Corey Seager, Carlos Correa, and Francisco Lindor all signed deals worth over $30 million a year last offseason. Spotrac currently projects Bogaerts' market value at $31 million a year, and his next deal as a six-year, $186 million contract.

Coming off this season, such a deal seems realistic. He hit .307 in 150 games in 2022, with 15 home runs and 73 RBIs. He was nominated for both a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger after the season.

Assuming he doesn't reach a new contract with the Red Sox by the end of the week, Bogaerts will be one of the top shortstops in free agency this year. He'll be joined by Trea Turner, Dansby Swanson, and Correa - whose deal from last year included an opt-out.

If the Red Sox can't sign Bogaerts, Trevor Story would likely take over as the team's shortstop. Story was signed to a six-year, $140 million contract last spring.

Xander Bogaerts career stats

 
Year Age Tm G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG Awards
2013 20 BOS 18 44 7 11 2 0 1 5 5 13 .250 .320 .364
2014 21 BOS 144 538 60 129 28 1 12 46 39 138 .240 .297 .362
2015 22 BOS 156 613 84 196 35 3 7 81 32 101 .320 .355 .421 SS
2016 23 BOS 157 652 115 192 34 1 21 89 58 123 .294 .356 .446 AS,SS
2017 24 BOS 148 571 94 156 32 6 10 62 56 116 .273 .343 .403
2018 25 BOS 136 513 72 148 45 3 23 103 55 102 .288 .360 .522 MVP-13
2019 26 BOS 155 614 110 190 52 0 33 117 76 122 .309 .384 .555 AS,MVP-5,SS
2020 27 BOS 56 203 36 61 8 0 11 28 21 41 .300 .364 .502 MVP-17
2021 28 BOS 144 529 90 156 34 1 23 79 62 113 .295 .370 .493 AS,MVP-12,SS
2022 29 BOS 150 557 84 171 38 0 15 73 57 118 .307 .377 .456 AS
Career 10 Y 1264 4834 752 1410 308 15 156 683 461 987 .292 .356 .458
162 avg. 162 620 96 181 39 2 20 88 59 126 .292 .356 .458
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/7/2022.

Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.

Alex Barth is a digital content producer and on-air host for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Barth grew up in the Boston area and began covering the New England Patriots, Boston Celtics, and Boston Red Sox in 2017 before joining the Hub in 2020. He now covers all things Boston Sports for 985TheSportsHub.com as well as appearing on air. Alex writes about all New England sports, as well as college football. You can follow him across all social media platforms at @RealAlexBarth.