The Boston Red Sox may lose Xander Bogaerts to free agency but there are three other big targets they could pick up to replace him.
After extending a paltry extension offer to Bogaerts, the Red Sox are in serious danger of watching Xander Bogaerts walk away after the 2022 season.
The first and obvious choice to replace Bogaerts is already on the roster: Trevor Story.
Right now, Story is playing second base, but he could move back to shortstop with Bogaerts gone.
However, there’s also a universe where the Red Sox opt to sign another big name at shortstop and keep Story at second. The options are strong if they want to do that.
Red Sox: If Xander Bogaerts leaves, these 3 studs could potentially replace him
Besides Bogaerts, there are three major shortstop free agents who will be on the market next year, according to Jon Heyman of the NY Post. Teams looking at that position can look to Trea Turner, Carlos Correa and Dansby Swanson.
Turner was traded to the Dodgers last year and he could decide to remain in Los Angeles. However, Heyman’s sources raised the possibility of him preferring the east to the west. The door could be open.
Correa landed with the Twins but he could opt out after this season to pursue a long-term deal. The Red Sox could entice him with said deal.
Finally, Swanson is in his final contract year with the Brave. He’s from Georgia so he may want to stay with Atlanta but we’ve already seen the franchise part ways with a legend in Freddie Freeman. Keeping Swanson is not a certainty.
Turner, Correa or Swanson would require a major financial investment and in the end, it may be more worth it to stick with Bogaerts.
The Red Sox have a few more months to figure things out before the pressure to make moves ramps up.
