Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox agree on extension, per reports

Xander Bogaerts and the Boston Red Sox have agreed on a new deal that will guarantee Bogaerts $132 million over 7 years, per multiple reports. The 26 year old shortstop would have become a free agent at season’s end but for an extension.

This is just the latest in a string of high-profile players who have opted for extensions rather than testing the free agent market this coming offseason, with Bogaerts joining the likes of Nolan Arenado and Bogaerts’ teammate Chris Sale in opting to stay put and lock in a big payday now. Bogaerts will still get the $12 million he is slated to receive for 2019, making the extension worth $120 million over 6 years, with a vesting option for 2025 and an opt-out after 2022.

Bogaerts had been worth about 3.5 wins per year over the past four years if you use bWAR, and 4.5 wins per year over the past four years if you use fWAR. Either way, he’s a solid above-average player at the position, and gives the Red Sox long-term control over another piece of their nucleus. Boston still has Rick Porcello scheduled to hit the open market this offseason, as well as potentially J.D. Martinez (who has an opt out), with Mookie Betts a free agent after 2020, but in locking up Bogaerts and Sale they’ve taken steps to minimize the amount of turnover the team is looking at in the next year or two.