FORT MYERS, Fla. — Leave it to Xander Bogaerts to nonchalantly address . . . well, not so much the elephant in the room, but the absence of a certain big name who is no longer in that room.
Last season, his sixth full one with the Red Sox, Bogaerts emerged as a true force in all the right ways. On the field, he delivered his finest season to date at age 26, slashing .309/.384/.555 with 33 home runs, finishing fifth in the American League Most Valuable Player race. Off the field, he was a fulcrum, his fluency in multiple languages bridging a diverse clubhouse while he also took the responsibility of being available and accountable in the toughest times.