Before the ink began to dry on Xander Bogaerts’ contract, questions were already nagging at the San Diego Padres.
San Diego Padres Contract Might Be The Worst In MLB
Bogaerts had an outstanding run with the Boston Red Sox between 2013-2022, winning two World Series rings. In 2019 he agreed to a six-year extension with the Boston Red Sox for $120 million. By that time, he was one of the league’s premium shortstop players and power hitters. In 2022, Bogaerts opted to leave the Boston Red Sox, per his contract, and join the spendthrift San Diego Padres.
At 31 years old, Bogaerts has played some incredible baseball, but it seems the years have caught up to him. In 2023, he posted .285/.350/.440/.790, a big slash from his previous five seasons with the Boston Red Sox. While still a competitive player, Bogaerts doesn’t stand up to the player he was half a decade ago. Now, the question stands: Are the Padres facing the end before even beginning?
From Top To Flop
The Padres have had an emotionally and financially reeling couple of seasons. In 2021, Fernando Tatís Jr. signed a 14-year $340 million extension with the Padres. Just a year later he was suspended. Ha-Seong Kim was moved to fill the bright spot Tatís Jr. left at shortstop, and he did so splendidly. Despite Kim’s valiant efforts at the position, and Tatís Jr.’s looming return, the Padres moved on with Bogaerts’ contract.
Bogaerts’ first season with the Padres was satisfactory. Nevertheless, it was not the defensive advantage the Padres had been betting on. Tatís Jr. and Kim proved to bolster better for the team at their respective defensive positions with Gold Glove seasons. Tatís Jr. managed to win the Gold Glove Award in his first season as a right fielder after edging out the competition in outs above average for his position. Kim proved his superiority with a 5.8 WAR by the end of the season which was 1.4 greater than Bogaert’s finish.
Padres Postseason Push
Sustainability seemed to be a word that was not in the Padre’s vocabulary. They shoveled out nine-figure contracts to Yu Darvish, Manny Machado, and Xander Bogaerts in three years. There were even hopes of bringing Juan Soto into this category, who had been traded in 2022 from the Washington Nationals.
By 2023, the Padres had constructed a dream team, but it quickly turned into a nightmare. After reaching the National League Championship and defeating the mighty Dodgers there was a rumble in the air. It seemed to be saying, “Padres on top!” The City was electric. Season ticket sales were forced to close and sold out in anticipation of a big win. The 2023 season was meant to be the year of triumph for the Padres, but the season came and went. It left behind the Padres who were unable to capitalize on their weighty ventures.
Then came the day of reckoning for the Friars. According to The Athletic, the Padres took out a $50 million loan to help pay their extensive contracts. Already after a year that held so much hope, the Padres were having to recalculate their spending and move on from a demoralizing third-place finish. In a ditch effort to make cuts, the team said goodbye to Juan Soto in a trade with the New York Yankees. This quick turnover left many fans questioning the plans for the franchise.
The Trouble With Bogaerts
In early 2024 it was announced that Bogaerts would be moving to second base. This news came a year after he signed one of the most expensive free-agent contracts in MLB history. Bogaerts took the move with grace and saw it as a sacrifice for the greater good of the team. His agreeable ease and strong poised response are the stuff of heroics but his step down from the coveted shortstop position makes the nine-figure contract harder to bear.
Things only got worse as the team progressed into the regular season. In May Bogaerts left the Monday afternoon game with a serious shoulder injury after attempting to field a grounder against the Atlanta Braves. His original rehabilitation stint was meant to last all season; however, he has made a daring return after also complaining of a wrist injury earlier in the season. If it wasn’t clear from his leveling statistics, it is clear now that Bogaerts is starting to wear down.
Sign On The Dotted Line
The San Diego Padres are a faithful bunch. They took a big risk signing the 30-year-old shortstop to a multi-million-dollar contract, hoping he would carry them to a World Series. While their agenda has gotten off to a shaky start there is still an opportunity for the Padres to achieve their first World Series win but the time is running out on the players and contracts alike. It seems evident that Bogaerts’ production will continue to decline well into the years of his contract with the Padres.
Main Photo Credits: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
