CINCINNATI, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 20: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the Boston Red Sox bats in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on September 20, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Where will the three biggest Boston Red Sox free agents end up next season?
There could be some major changes coming to the Boston Red Sox between now and Opening Day 2023. Because there are so many Red Sox free agents, they’re bound to let at least a few leave due to cost or the desire for a change.
Which members of the Red Sox could possibly leave due to free agency?
Boston Red Sox free agents
According to Spotrac, these are the Red Sox free agents including those with options or opt-outs in their contracts:
Chris Sale (player option)
Xander Bogaerts (opt-out)
J.D. Martinez
Eric Hosmer (player option)
Nathan Eovaldi
Tommy Pham (mutual option)
Michael Wacha
Rich Hill
Matthew Strahm
Hirokazu Sawamura
Rob Refsnyder
Jose Peraza
There are some big names on that list. Bogaerts is expected to opt-out while we can probably assume Sale and Hosmer will choose to stay because of how unkind free agency would be to each of them.
This leaves the Red Sox with some other major free agents left to consider. Let’s predict what happens with the three biggest.
1) Red Sox free agent prediction: Xander Bogaerts gets a nice, fat contract
Xander Bogaerts would be the biggest player to potentially leave the Red Sox in terms of importance. Staying put in Boston is a necessity and a precursor to the club rewarding Rafael Devers with a major deal of his own soon.
Bogaerts had another superb year for Boston in 2022. Despite the team’s struggles, he was productive throughout. If not for his presence, things would have been much worse.
Bogaerts will get a chance to test free agency but familiarity with the Red Sox and their own need to keep him should win out. They could always consider moving Trevor Story over to shortstop but that leaves a hole at second base where they would probably have to add a much weaker player.
The Red Sox rarely undergo any major rebuilds. Considering their actions at the trade deadline, it doesn’t seem like this regime is ready to tear things apart just yet. Bogaerts will stay. Others won’t.
