MLB free agency: Xander Bogaerts lands with Padres on 11-year, $280 million deal

Xander Bogaerts joins the San Diego Padres

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the All-Star shortstop ends his 10th season with Boston's Reds with his Sox and gives San Diego another huge deal in his book. Agreed to his 11-year, $280 million deal.

30-year-old Bogaerts withdrew his three years to the end of his six-year $120 million contract extension, which he signed in 2019, with Red qualifying his offer from the Sox. After he added one draft pick fee, he went public.

Bogaerts performed well, earning Silver Slugger honors with a .307/.377/.456 batting average. His free agency has played a big role in Boston in recent years, thanks to the team's slight position as a long-term contender and the leaving of Mookie Betts.

The Padres continue to make big deals

The Red Sox are reluctant to give players huge sums of money, but the same cannot be said for the Padres.

The club got its first shot in 2019 when it signed Manny Machado to his 10-year, $300 million free-agent deal. After developing into a first-class hitter, Fernando Tatis Jr. received his $340 million 14-year contract extension. And last year, the Padres traded five prospects and Luke Voight for bassist King Juan Soto.

Add the Bogaerts, and you have a group of 4 of MLB's big bats (although Tatis' luster has faded in light of recent events). A good way to keep the momentum going after the team reached its NLCS for the first time since 1998.

Of course, Bogaerts doesn't fit, given the Padres had a decent shortstop in Kim Ha-sun. Then there's Tatis, the team's former shortstop, and Jake Cronenworth, a super-utility man. Having four shortstops in the lineup is desirable, but it could mean the Padres need to move players.

A possible lineup for 2023 looks like this:

1. Xander Bogaerts, SS
2. Juan Soto, RF
3. Manny Machado, 3B
4. Fernando Tatis, LF
5. Jake Cronenworth, 1B
6. Ha-Seong Kim, 2B
7. Austin Nola, C
8. José Azocar, DH
9. Trent Grisham, CF

It's hard to imagine a better top of the lineup than the current MLB, but a) how these elites his player's age and b) If they stay in San Diego for a long time. Soto is expected to reach free agency in less than two years, while Machado's contract expires after the 2023 season.

The Padres ran to Trea Turner and Aaron Judge

Third San Diego spell. There has been some commotion about the club's follow of another star shortstop, Trea Turner. The Padres gave him $342 million before signing an 11-year, $300 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.

They then turned their attention to Aaron Judge, reportedly presenting the slugger with his $400 million offer, the second-largest contract in MLB history. He turned it down and returned to the New York Yankees for nine years and $360 million.

Bogaerts and Turner were two of the top shortstops to reach free agency this offseason, and Carlos left Correa and Dansby Swanson behind, and the team still splashed at the position. I hope.

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