NEW YORK -- With shortstop Xander Bogaerts set to opt out of his contract after 2022, the question of whether he will be back with Boston's next year looms over the team's season. When asked on Thursday whether he expected to come to an agreement with the Red Sox on a contract extension before their season starts on Friday, Bogaerts did not mince words.
"No," Bogaerts said. "No."
Boston offered Bogaerts an extension during the offseason, but the 29-year-old turned down the offer. According to team sources, Bogaerts asked for a contract that paid him in line with the game's highest paid shortstops: Carlos Correa - who makes $35.