Xander Bogaerts

The 2022 Major League Baseball season is coming to an end, and the wild-card series is set. While 12 teams will advance to the postseason, the rest of the league is now focused on the upcoming offseason and free agency.

While the fans would obviously rather be rooting their teams on in the playoffs, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about the looming addition of free agency. Several high-impact players are set to hit the open market, including standout shortstops Trea Turner and Dansby Swanson.

For a while, Turner seemed like a safe bet to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers, but according to The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya, extension talks between player and team have not progressed:

"The Dodgers informed Turner shortly before the start of the year they wouldn’t make him a formal offer, and there haven’t been any discussions between the two sides about an extension since," Ardaya wrote last month.

The shortstop market could be further buoyed by Carlos Correa and Xander Bogaerts, who are both widely expected to opt out.

"I’m the product here, and if they want my product, they've just got to come get it," Correa said, per Max Weisman of the New York Post.

And the shortstop market will have plenty of buyers, Jon Heyman of the New York Post recently reported.

According to Heyman, the St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Minnesota Twins and the Dodgers could all be looking for a new shortstop this offseason.

Heyman doesn't believe that the New York Yankees will join the fracas.

"The Yankees are thought to be OK with Isiah Kiner-Falefa holding the spot for top prospect Anthony Volpe, unless they ultimately decide Volpe is better suited for second base," Heyman wrote.

New York, of course, will have a larger focus in free agency. Even if the big-spender Yankees are out of the shortstop market, that market is going to be wild. Several quality players will be available, but it appears that even more teams will be looking.

Aaron Judge

Outfielder and slugger Aaron Judge will naturally be the Yankee's primary focus this offseason—and he'll likely be at the center of the offseason buzz in general.

Judge made history on Tuesday when he hit his 62nd home run of the season. That broke a tie Judge held with Roger Maris for the most in Yankees' and American League history.

The playoffs are next for Judge and for New York, but free agency is right around the corner. The 30-year-old's latest achievement won't do anything to keep his price tag down.

Last month, ESPN's Kiley McDaniel polled 14 anonymous MLB executives about Judge's projected contract value. The average of predictions was 8.6 years and just below $320 million.

Not all of the execs predicted Judge returning to New York either. According to McDaniel, two picked the New York Mets, two said the Giants, and one guessed either the Giants or the Dodgers.

The Yankees, Mets and Dodgers may ultimately be the front-runners in the Judge sweepstakes.

"One front-office source scoffed at us listing the Giants as a favorable landing spot for Judge," CBS Sports' R.J. Anderson recently wrote.

The Yankees and Dodgers typically aren't afraid of a little offseason spending, and the Mets have recently become a similar buy-big franchise. It may feel like the Yankees can't afford to let their biggest superstar walk, but there will be no shortage of contract offers made.

Judge has been the biggest story in baseball throughout his record chase; expect him to continue dominating the news cycle well after the World Series has ended.

Multiple high-profile MLB teams are reportedly expected to pursue a top shortstop on the free-agent market during the offseason.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants are all expected to be on the hunt for a star shortstop.

Heyman named Trea Turner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dansby Swanson of the Atlanta Braves, Xander Bogaerts of the Boston Red Sox and Carlos Correa of the Minnesota Twins as the top shortstops expected to hit the market and drum up a ton of interest once the 2022 season concludes.

Depending on what happens with the aforementioned shortstops, the Dodgers, Braves, Red Sox and Twins could be players in the shortstop market as well, since they will need replacements if their star shortstops sign elsewhere.

This marks the second consecutive year that shortstop is arguably the most stacked position in free agency, as Correa, Corey Seager, Javier Baez, Trevor Story and Marcus Semien were among the headliners of the 2021 class.

In terms of total value, Seager got the biggest deal at $325 million over 10 years. Baez, Semien and Story also did well for themselves, while Correa settled for a three-year deal with an opt-out clause after this season.

Part of the reason for Correa not landing a big contract was the fact that he waited until after the lockout to sign, which may have impacted his market.

That won't be an issue this offseason, which is why Turner, Swanson, Bogaerts and Correa are all expected to do well in free agency.

Turner, 29, has spent parts of the past two seasons in L.A. after a trade from the Washington Nationals and is in the midst of a fantastic season that has seen him hit .300 with 20 home runs, 97 RBI, 98 runs scored and 26 stolen bases.

As a two-time All-Star, one-time batting champion and one-time World Series champion with top-end speed, Turner promises to be highly sought after.

The 28-year-old Swanson is enjoying a career year with a .276 average, 22 homers and 92 RBI, and he helped the Braves win the World Series last season.

Bogaerts, who turns 30 on Saturday, is a four-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion during a 10-year career that has been spent entirely in Boston.

With a .309 batting average, Bogaerts is in the hunt for the American League batting titles, which would be the first of his career.

Correa, who is the youngest of the free-agent shortstops after just turning 28 this month, was a two-time All-Star and one-time World Series champion during his time with the Houston Astros, and has played well for the Twins this season, hitting .286 with 21 homers and 61 RBI.

Of the teams rumored to be heavily interested in the free-agent shortstops, the Cardinals are the only surefire playoff team this season, while the Phillies are battling for the final wild-card spot in the NL.

The Giants missed out on the playoffs after winning over 100 games last season, and the Cubs are in the midst of a rebuild.

Any of those teams would receive a huge boost upon signing one of the top shortstops and would perhaps close the gap between themselves and top NL teams like the Dodgers, Braves and New York Mets.

MLB executives reportedly predict "one of the best free-agent classes in recent memory" with several high-profile players planning to use opt-out clauses in their contracts to hit the open market.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Thursday it's a group that includes New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom, Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander, Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa, Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts and San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Carlos Rodon.

Those players with options in their contracts for 2023 are expected to join a star-studded free-agent group also slated to include New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge and Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner.

Having so many notable names available in free agency will represent the first major test for MLB's collective bargaining agreement.

The league and the Players Association came to terms on a new CBA in March following a 99-day lockout. One of the biggest concerns raised by the union throughout the process was the "artificial restraints on free agency."

That came after the free-agent market became sluggish in recent years, which was basically a two-pronged problem.

On one hand, teams with the talent to contend were trying to avoid reaching the league's Competitive Balance Tax, MLB's version of a luxury tax, and opted for cheaper depth options.

On the other, a fair number of clubs fully embraced tanking, so they had no interest in signing free agents who would add significant payroll when the World Series wasn't a realistic target.

It left a small number of teams to compete for most of the market's biggest names, which led to long free-agent stays and contracts below expected value.

Initial returns from the new CBA were promising. Over $1 billion was spent on player contracts in the first 10 days after the deal was announced.

So now the focus shifts to this winter, where the money should once again be flying around if the CBA is working as intended for the players.

DeGrom and Verlander are two of the generation's best pitchers and could command salaries in the same ballpark as the $43.3 million starting pitcher Max Scherzer received from the Mets last offseason, which is the current highest salary in MLB, per Spotrac.

Hitters like Judge and Turner should also break the bank in the new CBA environment. The Yankees slugger has recorded 51 home runs so far in 2022, which is 15 more than any other player, and the Dodgers infielder is one of the sport's most well-rounded players.

The likes of Bogaerts, Correa and Rodon may not quite match the salaries of those top four, but they're also in line for lucrative contracts of their own.

All that said, if this year's free-agent market fails to live up to expectations in terms of team spending, grumblings about the CBA will likely begin anew.

Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts expressed skepticism about the direction of the franchise following the team's decision to trade catcher Christian Vazquez to the Houston Astros on Monday.

"I wouldn’t say we got better because we lost [Vazquez]," Bogaerts told reporters Tuesday.

On Monday, John Tomase of NBC Sports Boston reported that players within the organization were frustrated about the lack of moves to address the club's "obvious holes."

It's no surprise Bogaerts was disappointed by the loss of Vazquez. The two had played in Boston together since the 2014 season.

Vazquez, one of the better offensive catchers in baseball, was also having a solid 2022 campaign, slashing .282/.327/.432 with eight home runs and 42 RBI in 84 games. However, he was a candidate to be dealt, as his contract is up after this season.

Since trading Vazquez, the Red Sox have acquired first baseman Eric Hosmer from the San Diego Padres and catcher Reese McGuire from the Chicago White Sox. They also brought in outfielder Tommy Pham from the Cincinnati Reds.

While Hosmer is certainly viewed as an upgrade over Franchy Cordero and Bobby Dalbec at first, he doesn't necessarily make Boston any better.

The 32-year-old is slashing .272/.336/.391 with eight home runs and 40 RBI in 90 games this season.

McGuire, meanwhile, is a downgrade from Vazquez behind the plate. The 27-year-old is also hitting .225/.261/.285 with 10 RBI in 53 games.

The Red Sox enter Tuesday's game against the Astros last in the AL East with a 52-52 record. However, they are six games behind the second-place Toronto Blue Jays and just three games behind the third-place Tampa Bay Rays. They are also three games behind the Seattle Mariners for the final AL Wild Card spot.

With the opportunity to still make the playoffs, it's no surprise Bogaerts is concerned about the direction of the organization.

That said, it wouldn't be surprising to see the star shortstop exit in free agency this winter. He is expected to decline his player option for the 2023 campaign in pursuit of a larger contract, and even if Boston offers him a better deal, he could leave if he feels the organization isn't built to win.

Bogaerts has spent his entire 10-year career with the Red Sox and has been one of the team's best players since his first full season in 2014.

Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts said he received confirmation from the club's front office he won't be moved before Tuesday's 2022 MLB trade deadline.

Bogaerts, who hit a go-ahead home run in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians, said he's "been playing better" since getting clarity on his future from Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom and team president Sam Kennedy, though he didn't want to reveal too many details from the conversation.

"Yeah. I don't know if I should say that, but I hope I don't get in trouble," he told reporters. "But yeah, much better like that. Communication is always huge in everything in life. To get that type of feedback is beneficial, I would say."

Bloom explained Wednesday the front office wasn't "planning to discuss them with anybody" in reference to Bogaerts or Rafael Devers, but he added a caveat.

"The best thing I can say is we're not doing our jobs if we're not considering all possibilities," Bloom said.

The Red Sox have fallen to last place in the AL East, but that's more a sign of the division's strength than any type of severe weakness within the club.

They own a 50-50 record following Thursday's triumph over the Guardians. They were in second place in the AL East on June 26 with a 42-31 record before falling into a slump leading up to the All-Star break. They are 3.5 games behind the final wild-card spot.

Bogaerts told NESN's Jahmai Webster he's hopeful the club doesn't make any drastic changes and gives the players a chance to surge back during the stretch run of the regular season:

The 29-year-old shortstop has been a bright spot amid Boston's up-and-down year. He's compiled a .318 batting average and .856 OPS with eight homers and seven stolen bases in 96 games. His 4.3 WAR ranks second at the position behind the Atlanta Braves' Dansby Swanson (4.7), per FanGraphs.

Bogaerts' future with the club mostly came into question because his six-year, $120 million contract features an opt-out clause following the 2022 season. Losing him to free agency would obviously be a major setback for the organization.

His agent, Scott Boras, told Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe in May they didn't expect to discuss the contract situation with the team until the offseason.

So the Red Sox are taking on some risk if they keep Bogaerts through the deadline without assurances he's planning to either re-sign or pick up the option.

For now, it doesn't sound like a blockbuster trade is on the horizon, though.

It's reportedly become "increasingly realistic" the Boston Red Sox will be seller ahead of the 2022 MLB trade deadline on Aug. 2 after having fallen to fourth place in the AL East.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Tuesday rival executives expect Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom will be "open for business" with J.D. Martinez, Enrique "Kike" Hernandez and Nathan Eovaldi leading the notable names who could be placed on the trade block.

Even if Boston proceeds with a fire sale, Xander Bogaerts isn't among those who will likely be moved despite having a player option in his six-year, $120 million contract that could make him a free agent at season's end, per Passan.

The Red Sox have tumbled down the standings in recent weeks amid a cold stretch that includes a 2-8 record over their past 10 games. The skid was lowlighted by a 28-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night.

Boston's record stands at 49-48, and it's three games behind the Seattle Mariners (52-45) for the final wild-card spot in a crowded AL playoff race.

If the front office decides contention isn't possible, it could take advantage of a trade market lacking sellers with high-impact assets.

Martinez, a longtime outfielder who's exclusively played designated hitter for the Red Sox this season, would immediately become one of the best players available. He's posted a .302/.368/.481 slash line with nine home runs in 81 appearances in 2022.

The 34-year-old slugger, who's coming off his fifth All-Star appearance, told WEEI's Rob Bradford the situation is "very weird" leading up to the deadline. He named Bogaerts, Eovaldi and Christian Vazquez as players in similar uncertain situations.

"For me, this is the fourth team I've been on and if you get traded that means you're going to be on a contending team, and if you don't get traded that means you are on a contending team," Martinez said. "It's a win-win."

Hernandez, 30, is on the IL with a hip injury, but once healthy he could provide a value as a utility player for a contender, similar to what he did with the Los Angeles Dodgers in recent years. He's played every position other than catcher in the big leagues.

Eovaldi, 32, has endured an up-and-down 2022 season en route to a 4.30 ERA, but his 79 strikeouts in 75.1 innings showcase some upside for interested teams.

All told, it's possible the Red Sox get hot over the next week and the front office decides to keep the group together to make a postseason push.

It sounds like a sell-off is becoming more probable with each passing loss, though.

The Boston Red Sox aren't expected to trade star shortstop Xander Bogaerts ahead of the Aug. 2 MLB trade deadline, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

"Rival executives anticipate that even if Boston unloads a half-dozen players, Bogaerts, the star 29-year-old shortstop, won't be among them, even though he's set to hit free agency this winter," per Passan.

Team president Sam Kennedy addressed Bogaerts' status during an interview on The Greg Hill Show:

Look, all I'll say is there has been no discussion or commentary internally or externally about moves related to the trade deadline involving Xander or (Rafael Devers) or anyone else to my knowledge at this point. We're focused on getting back in this thing and winning. [...]

We've said it repeatedly on these airwaves and in other forums that we've got a responsibility to do everything in our power to make sure that we're built to be competitive into the postseason. And Xander and Raffy and the guys who have gotten us there in the past, we hope they're a part of this for a long, long time.

The four-time All-Star can opt out of his six-year, $120 million contract in the winter, and that figures to be the route he takes based on his performance this season.

Bogaerts is batting .312 with a .443 slugging percentage and seven home runs in 93 games. Per FanGraphs, he's fourth among shortstops in WAR (3.7) and second in wOBA (.362).

Per Passan, Bogaerts will look to sign for $200 million or more as a free agent, and that's a reasonable benchmark if Corey Seager can get $325 million over 10 years from the Texas Rangers.

If the Red Sox hold onto the four-time Silver Slugger beyond the deadline, it could signal their desire to lock him down with a long-term extension. But Boston hasn't gone above and beyond to retain its top homegrown talent in recent years.

The team traded Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers rather than meet his asking price on a multiyear contract. In June, the New York Post's Jon Heyman reported the Sox and third baseman Rafael Devers "were eons apart in talks this spring" on an extension.

With the qualifying offer going nowhere, perhaps Boston is content to watch Bogaerts leave and receive a draft pick in the process.

Of course, Bogaerts basically holds all of the cards because he has a full no-trade clause. Although leaving the Red Sox, who at 49-48 are three games back of the final wild-card spot in the American League, might give him a better shot at contending for a title, he could be perfectly happy to remain right where he is for the second half of 2022.

In that case, Boston's hands would be tied.

Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts is day-to-day after exiting Sunday's game against the Chicago Cubs with a left thigh laceration that required seven stitches.

Ian Browne of MLB.com relayed the update on Bogaerts.

Bogaerts suffered the injury in the seventh inning after being spiked on a stolen base attempt from Willson Contreras. His status moving forward is unclear.

Bogaerts suffered from back discomfort earlier this season following a collision with outfielder Alex Verdugo during a 7-3 win over the Seattle Mariners on May 20. However, he did not miss any time and returned to the lineup one day later.

Any injury that results in the 29-year-old missing time isn't ideal for the Red Sox. He has been one of the team's best hitters this season, slashing .321/.393/.461 with six home runs and 31 RBI in 75 games.

Bogaerts, who has a player option for the 2023 season, is also in a contract year and reportedly intends to decline his player option with the Red Sox in hopes of a more lucrative long-term extension.

The three-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger has spent his entire 10-year career in Boston, helping the Red Sox win the World Series in 2013 and 2018.

Should Bogaerts have to miss time, the Red Sox have some options at shortstop. They signed former Colorado Rockies star Trevor Story over the offseason, and while he's mostly played at second base, he is a natural shortstop.

In addition, Christian Arroyo could see additional time at the position. He could also play second base if Story were to shift to short.

The Red Sox are second in the AL East with a 43-35 record, 14 games behind the division-leading New York Yankees.