Xander Bogaerts Signs A Monster Contract With The Padres

Xander Bogaerts Signs A Monster Contract With The Padres.  Shortstop Xander Bogaerts and the Padres agreed late Wednesday night on an 11-year, $280 million contract, a source familiar with the deal told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. It’s a stunning contract in multiple ways.

Before Wednesday, only one player had ever signed a deal of at least $275 million at age 30 or older. Two did so on Wednesday: Aaron Judge with the Yankees and Bogaerts with the Padres.

The 11-year deal is the longest contract – free agent or otherwise – ever signed at age 30 or older. It’s also the third ever free-agent deal of at least 11 years. Two of the three have been signed this week. Bogaerts will be 41 years old when the contract ends in 2033.

Bogaerts is the third player to sign a deal of at least $275 million with the Padres. That matches the Yankees for the most all-time (Alex Rodriguez, Gerrit Cole, Aaron Judge). Each team handed out one of those contracts on Wednesday. It’s worth noting Manny Machado can opt out of his contract after the 2023 season. So Bogaerts gives them some insurance should Machado opt out and not re-sign with San Diego.

Bogaerts has been one of the best shortstops in baseball. Over the last 5 seasons, Trea Turner is the only primary shortstop with a higher average, his new teammate Fernando Tatis Jr. is the only one with a higher OPS and Marcus Semien (now playing 2B for the Rangers) is the only one with a higher WAR.

Bogaerts has 479 career extra-base hits, the most by any primary SS since he entered the league in 2013.

Over the last 3 seasons, Bogaerts (.301) is 1 of 7 qualified hitters with an average over .300. Bogaerts had 16 3-hit games last season, tied for the 4th-most in MLB. Only Freddie Freeman (20), Amed Rosario (17) and Luis Arraez
(17) had more.

The top of the Padres lineup could be baseball’s best. The likely top-four hitters in their lineup – Fernando Tatis Jr. (once he returns from suspension), Juan Soto, Manny Machado and Bogaerts – have combined for 13 All-Star selections. Each of them has also finished top-five in MVP voting at least once in their careers, doing so a combined nine times.

This was not a shock for me(Pete) that Bogaerts is not with the Red Sox anymore as it has been rumored for months now that he was going to depart.  Nevertheless, it sucks.  I will have a lot more to say later today on Shemon and Sheppard about this and other signings.

College Football is not what it used to be. I don't know what has impacted the sport more; NIL or the Transfer Portal. Some teams have obviously been harder than others. The Florida Gators have 14 players listed in the portal according to 247sports. This has become a way for programs to rebuild quickly. Look at what USC has done. They brought in Caleb Williams and Jordan Addison this season, and were a Utah program away from being in the playoff. The season prior to that Alabama grabbed Jamison Williams from Ohio State. Had he stayed healthy in the National Championship game, Georgia might still be in search of their first title since the 1980's. NIL has been awesome for the kids. I think the Transfer Portal is awesome for the fans.

Watch what Deion Sanders does at Colorado in the Transfer Portal. Matt Rhule going to Nebraska could bring some much needed talent to Lincoln. And say what you want about Hugh Freeze (and I've said a lot), he will turn that Auburn program around quickly. And all 3 of those guys will have an easier time rebuilding with the aid of the transfer Portal. The Transfer Portal list is not finalized yet, but we have a pretty good idea of what the biggest names in the Transfer Portal will look like. One name to keep an eye on is UNC Quarterback Drake Maye. He set the record book on fire this year, and was a Heisman candidate before the Heels dropped their last 3 games. So some names can still be added. But here are the biggest names in the Transfer Portal.