Red Sox, Xander Bogaerts Reportedly Agree At $132M Through 2025
BOSTON (AP) — Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts has agreed to terms on a new contract that would keep him in Boston through 2025 and guarantee him $132 million, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Sunday night.
Bogaerts will earn $12 million this year under the terms of his existing deal and then $20 million for each of the next six seasons, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not yet been announced.
Another person familiar with the deal told the AP the deal includes a team option for 2026 at $20 million, which becomes guaranteed if he has 535 plate appearances in 2025. Bogaerts also has an opt-out clause after 2022.
The talks were first reported by WEEI.
Bogaerts hit .288 last year and set career bests with 23 homers and 103 RBIs while helping the Red Sox win a franchise-record 108 games in the regular season and a World Series championship. The 26-year-old native of Aruba finished 13th in the AL MVP voting.
It's the second time in eight days the team has made a big commitment to a player that helped it win a third straight AL East title and fourth World Series since 2004. Left-hander Chris Sale signed a deal that will guarantee him $160 million over the next six seasons.
Reigning AL MVP Mookie Betts is eligible for salary arbitration after this season and for free agency after 2020, when he will be still be just 28. He will earn $20 million this year.
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AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report from New York.
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