Xander Bogaerts

The Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies have gotten off to tough starts in the 2022 season, but help could be coming over the winter.

An MLB general manager told Bob Nightengale of USA Today they expect both teams to be major suitors for a strong crop of free-agent shortstops that likely will include Trea Turner, Carlos Correa and Xander Bogaerts (the latter two have opt-out clauses).

"I guarantee you they’re going to get one of them," the GM said of the Cubs.

The 23-31 Cubs have been utilizing the 25-year-old Nico Hoerner at shortstop, and while he's been solid (.290 with three homers and 16 RBI), he could also be bumped to second base if the team brings in an elite option at the position.

The 24-29 Phillies, meanwhile, have relied on Didi Gregorius (.288 with seven RBI) when healthy and Johan Camargo (.246 with three homers and 15 RBI) when Gregorius has been unavailable because of injuries. But the team could clearly use both an offensive and defensive upgrade at the position, even if a woeful bullpen is the team's biggest weakness.

Turner, Correa and Bogaerts should have a vibrant market, meanwhile.

Turner, 28, was an All-Star in 2021 after hitting .328 with 28 homers, 77 RBI, 107 runs, 195 hits and 32 stolen bases between the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers. He's one of the more dangerous offensive weapons in baseball, especially if his added power last season wasn't simply an outlier but a trend going forward.

Correa, 27, is a two-time All-Star, a champion, a Gold Glove winner and was the 2015 AL Rookie of the Year. He perhaps didn't receive the market he was hoping for ahead of this season, ultimately signing a three-year, $105.3 million deal with the Minnesota Twins that included player options for 2023 and 2024.

He seems likely to test that market again in pursuit of a long-term deal.

Finally, the 29-year-old Bogaerts is a three-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger award winner a and two-time champion, and it would be somewhat shocking to see the Red Sox let him walk.

But Boston has hardly bent over backward to keep its own stars in place after trading Mookie Betts to the Dodgers, and this offseason's signing of Trevor Story perhaps foreshadowed Boston's willingness to part ways with Bogaerts, especially with a long-term extension looming for 25-year-old superstar Rafael Devers.

Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts exited Friday's game against the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park after suffering an unspecified injury on a collision with Alex Verdugo in left field.

Bogaerts did not return to the game as Franchy Cordero replaced him. 

Cordero moves to right, Bradley moves to center and Hernandez (not Story) is playing shortstop for Bogaerts

— Jen McCaffrey (@jcmccaffrey) May 21, 2022

Despite this ailment, Bogaerts has been fairly durable for much of his career. He appeared in 136 or more games in six seasons in a row from 2014 through 2019 and played 56 of a possible 60 games during the shortened 2020 campaign. He then played 144 games in 2021.

When healthy, the 29-year-old is one of the best players in the Boston lineup.

He slashed .295/.370/.493 with 23 home runs and 79 RBI in 2021 after hitting .309/.384/.555 with 33 home runs and 117 RBI in 2019 during the previous full year. He is a three-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger and two-time World Series champion as one of the faces of the organization.

He has been one of Boston's best hitters this season, slashing .331/.389/.472 with four home runs and 16 RBI entering Friday's contest. 

While it's unrealistic for the Red Sox to expect anyone to replicate Bogaerts' numbers, look for them to turn toward Christian Arroyo at shortstop if the starter is sidelined for an extended period.

Some within the Boston Red Sox organization reportedly hope the front office will admit it made a mistake with shortstop Xander Bogaerts.

"There are voices in the organization who really, really hope that the team's ownership is willing to admit the spring offer to Bogaerts of a one-year extension was a serious mistake and pay the homegrown shortstop," Buster Olney of ESPN reported Wednesday.

While Bogaerts signed a six-year, $120 million extension in 2019, he can opt out of the deal after this season. Boston offered him the one-year extension in spring training that would have locked him into a new four-year, $90 million contract.

The writing may be on the wall for Bogaerts' future with the Red Sox, considering Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported one of the shortstop's friends said, "He's going to leave," earlier this month.

Heyman also noted one of Bogaerts' friends called the one-year extension offer a "slap in the face."

Bogaerts' agent, Scott Boras, told Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe on Tuesday that negotiations will "definitively" wait until after the season. That echoes what the player said in April.

"I can't do nothing about it right now," Bogaerts said, per ESPN's Joon Lee. "I got a season coming up in front of me. I don't want to put my teammates with that kind of distraction. They don't deserve it. We had time to get something done. It didn't work out."

Lee reported Bogaerts sought a deal from the Red Sox that would pay him around what Carlos Correa ($35.1 million annually with the Minnesota Twins), Francisco Lindor ($34.1 million annually with the New York Mets) and Corey Seager ($33 million annually with the Texas Rangers) make.

Despite previous assertions that Opening Day was something of a deadline for the negotiations, Bogaerts recently told Abraham the Red Sox could come up with "something that's fair" in discussions with Boras.

From Boston's perspective, it has Trevor Story, who can slide from second base to his natural shortstop position next year if Bogaerts doesn't return.

Still, the incumbent shortstop is a four-time Silver Slugger and three-time All-Star who helped lead the Red Sox to two World Series titles. He is also off to an excellent start to the season while slashing .338/.399/.466 and posting three home runs and 15 RBI.

Considering he is just 29 years old and playing at such a high level, he will likely make more on the open market if he opts out of his deal, which would otherwise run through 2026 and pay him $20 million per year, after this season.          

Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts is hoping to stay put with a long-term contract extension, but it appears negotiations are on hold.

Bogaerts' agent Scott Boras told Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe that contract talks "definitively" will wait until after the season ends.

In April, Bogaerts indicated Opening Day was his unofficial deadline to agree to terms on an extension. But his stance seemed to have softened, as he told Abraham he would be open to negotiating during the 2022 season.

"I don't know how this would work," Bogaerts said. "But if they talk to Scott behind closed doors and it's something that's fair, he can come to me. We'll see how that goes."

Bogaerts signed a six-year, $120 million extension in March 2019, but he's eligible to opt out and become a free agent after the season. Even though he would be leaving $60 million guaranteed on the table, the 29-year-old is likely to make more than that on the open market.

A three-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger, Bogaerts is one of the best players at his position. This season, he leads the Red Sox with a .346 batting average, which ranks fourth in MLB. Bogaerts has added three home runs and 15 RBI for Boston, which is fourth in the AL East with a 14-21 record.

Bogaerts has expressed a desire to stay in Beantown, so the Red Sox should feel safe in waiting until after the season to resume contract talks.

Xander Bogaerts and the Boston Red Sox won't come to terms on an extension before Friday's Opening Day game against the New York Yankees, he told reporters Thursday. 

The star shortstop added that the Red Sox made him an offer but "it didn't work out." 

The news comes after MLB insider Hector Gomez reported the Red Sox and third baseman Rafael Devers were not making progress on an extension. The club offered the 25-year-old a contract, but he reportedly declined because it was lower than what he is willing to consider, Gomez added. 

Bogaerts, 29, signed a six-year, $120 million extension at the start of the 2019 season and will make $20 million in 2022. He has a player option worth $20 million for the 2023 season, though ESPN's Joon Lee reported in October 2021 that he plans to opt out.

Based on how the shortstop market has been over the last few years, it's possible Bogaerts gets an extension worth more than $20 million annually. However, he likely won't receive a deal similar to that of Carlos Correa, who agreed to a three-year deal with the Minnesota Twins worth $35.1 million per year. 

For reference, New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor makes $34.1 million annually, and Texas Rangers star Corey Seager makes $33 million per year. All three players are younger than Bogaerts and are viewed as better players at the position. 

Still, Bogaerts has made a name for himself in Boston, helping the Red Sox win two World Series. The three-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger hit .295/.370/.493 in 2021 with 23 home runs and 79 RBI in 144 games. 

And while Bogaerts has spent his entire nine-year career in Boston, the Red Sox might be willing to let him walk following the acquisition of Trevor Story, who signed a six-year, $140 million deal with the franchise this offseason. 

Red Sox manager Alex Cora noted that Bogaerts would remain the team's shortstop this season and that Story, who has played the position his entire career, would play second base. 

If Bogaerts plays elsewhere in 2023, Story could shift back to shortstop, but considering there's a full season of baseball ahead, it's best not to consider the what-ifs just yet. 

Major League Baseball's 2021-22 free-agent market hasn't yet closed up shop, so saying it's "too early" to be looking ahead to next winter's market is an understatement.

But in our defense, there's not a whole lot else to do with the end of the lockout nowhere in sight. So we figured, what the heck?

Though the 2022-23 class of free agents doesn't look quite as top-heavy as the one for this winter, to our eyes it's deep enough to warrant a more thorough preview than a simple ranking of the best players.

Which is to say that, while we will eventually make our way to a top five, we first have to check off all the breakout hopefuls, lesser stars and proper stars who will be worth monitoring in free agency following the conclusion of the 2022 season.

---

These Guys Have a Lot Riding on 2022

This might as well be known as the "Marcus Semien Bracket" of next year's free-agent class. As awful as his 2020 was, Semien saved face in 2021 by having his second MVP-caliber season in three years. His reward: a seven-year, $175 million deal with the Texas Rangers.

There's no better candidate to follow in Semien's footsteps in 2022 than Noah Syndergaard.

After Tommy John surgery in 2020 and just two return appearances in 2021, the right-hander's one-year, $21 million pact with the Los Angeles Angels is the very definition of a "prove it" contract. And prove it he just might, so long as he stays healthy and cranks out fireballs like he did while he was pitching to a 132 ERA+ between 2015 and 2018.

In the same boat as Syndergaard are fellow starters Mike Clevinger and Jameson Taillon in 2022. If there's a reliever to be thrown in there, it's Corey Knebel. This year is a prime chance to show he can stay healthy and that he can handle the ninth inning as the Philadelphia Phillies' new closer.

On the position player side, 2022 could be Gary Sanchez's last best chance to show he can still be a star behind the plate. Heck, anything less than a 30-homer season like the ones he had in 2016 and 2018 could spell the end of his days as an everyday catcher. As it is, his hold on that role with the New York Yankees is already tenuous.

Though it's commendable that he won a Gold Glove in 2021, Andrew Benintendi's future may also hinge on his bat. The 27-year-old looked like an advanced hitter with developing power back in 2017 and 2018, but has since toed the league average with a 99 OPS+ and 30 homers in 286 games.

---

The Not-Quite Stars

Contrary to this winter's weak crop of backstops, there's actually going to be some good catching talent available next offseason even if Sanchez doesn't turn things around. Christian Vazquez and Tucker Barnhart are excellent everyday defenders, while Omar Narvaez and Max Stassi at least receive well and can also hit a bit.

There will also be a solid collection of second-tier outfielders, including Adam Duvall, David Peralta, Robbie Grossman, Manuel Margot, Tyler Naquin and maybe Lorenzo Cain, provided he can stay healthy in 2022 and is game to return for his age-37 season in 2023 

Speaking of veterans who may yet have something left in the tank, 34-year-old J.D. Martinez isn't yet an afterthought even after a dismal 2020 and an up-and-down 2021. The same goes for Jesus Aguilar, who's continued to be a mostly above-average hitter following his 35-homer peak with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2018.

On the border of stardom is where we put Enrique Hernandez and Adam Frazier. They've certainly hit like stars in spurts, but the more reliable aspect of their games is their versatile defense. That's especially true of Hernandez, who's won a Fielding Bible Award as a utility man in each of the last two seasons.

On the mound, Cy Young Award winners Corey Kluber and David Price are positioned to reestablish value after mostly falling off the radar—save for when Kluber did, you know, that last May—over the last three seasons. If not, the likes of Kyle Gibson, Wade Miley, Merrill Kelly, Zach Eflin and Andrew Heaney will be the top mid-to-back-end rotation options.

Among relievers, Zack Britton will represent a significant upside play once he's fully recovered from Tommy John surgery. Otherwise, Chad Green, Michael Fulmer, Matt Wisler, Daniel Hudson, Pierce Johnson, Luke Jackson and Trevor May will be semi-affordable options for the late innings.

---

The Actual Stars

The catchers mentioned above are good, yet not on the same tier as Willson Contreras and Mike Zunino. The former is a two-time All-Star with a career 112 OPS+, while the latter is fresh off being an All-Star for the first time amid a 33-homer outburst in 2021.

There's also going to be a good assortment of sluggers at first base, including established, yet aging, stars like 2020 American League MVP Jose Abreu, 2021 AL batting champion Yuli Gurriel and Brandon Belt, who's put up an elite 165 OPS+ when he's been healthy over the last two seasons.

On the younger end of the spectrum, there will be Josh Bell and Trey Mancini. Sure, both come with defensive limitations. But if all you want is 30-homer power, you could do worse. Bell topped out with 37 in an All-Star season in 2019, while Mancini hit 35 that same year.

In the outfield, Mitch Haniger will be yet another source of 30-homer power on next winter's market. Teams could otherwise look to Michael Brantley and Brandon Nimmo, who more so specialize in batting average and on-base percentage, respectively. Brantley has hit over .300 in each of the last four seasons, while Nimmo boasts a stellar .393 OBP for his career.

At least as far as the batsmen are concerned, maybe the biggest wild card for next winter's market is Dansby Swanson. The shortstop hasn't quite lived up to being the No. 1 pick of the 2015 draft, yet he's at times been a plus defender and he ran into some power by hitting 27 homers in 2021. He'll only be 28 on Feb. 11.

For teams in need of arms next winter, Nathan Eovaldi, Chris Bassitt, Joe Musgrove, Sean Manaea will make for a solid foursome of No. 2-type starters. Each provided north of 150 innings of above-average pitching in 2021, and Eovaldi was even third among all qualified starters in FanGraphs WAR.

Next winter's market for late-inning relievers will notably be headlined by Craig Kimbrel and Aroldis Chapman, who boast 678 combined saves and the two highest strikeout rates in major league history. Yet each will also be coming off his age-34 season, so closer-needy teams would be justified in preferring Ryan Pressly, Edwin Diaz or Taylor Rogers.

---

The Superstars

This winter's market has already paid out nine-figure deals to six different players, and there's a good chance that Carlos Correa, Freddie Freeman, Kris Bryant and Trevor Story will join the club on the other side of the lockout. 

At least for now, the 2022-23 market doesn't look like it's going to have that many stars with that much earning power. Yet there are at least five players who we think will head into free agency with superstar credentials worthy of $100 million or more.

5. RF Joey Gallo, New York Yankees

Yankees fans who watched Gallo hit just .160 in 58 games after coming over from the Rangers in July might bristle at the idea that he's a superstar. And to be sure, no honest assessment of him can ignore that he strikes out more than any other hitter.

Yet power and defense are certainly Gallo's two best calling cards. He had 40-homer seasons in 2017 and 2018 and is fresh off a 38-homer campaign in 2021, many of which were of the no doubter variety. He's also won back-to-back Gold Gloves, for which he can thank both his range and his tremendous arm strength.

In spite of the strikeouts, Gallo led the AL with 111 walks in 2021. He's also a better baserunner than you'd expect a 6'5", 250-pounder to be. And since he'll only be off his age-28 season when he enters free agency, he should be a couple years away from his twilight.

4. RF Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

If there are worries about Judge's future beyond 2022, they're his age and durability. He'll be 31 before the end of April 2023, and it's no great surprise that he's had issues keeping his 6'7", 282-pound frame healthy. Frankly, there's a lot of him that can get hurt.

But when Judge is healthy, he hits. So much so that he ranks third behind Mike Trout and Juan Soto in OPS+ among hitters with at least 2,000 plate appearances since 2017. This is to say nothing about his colossal power, which produced 52 homers in '17 and 39 in '21.

Though he doesn't have Gallo's Gold Gloves, metrics like defensive runs saved and ultimate zone rating tag Judge as a quality defender in his own right. Throw in how an altered offseason routine helped lead him to the healthiest season of his career in 2021, and he's trending nowhere but up at just the right time.

3. RHP Jacob deGrom, New York Mets*

This is assuming that deGrom will opt out of his contract with the Mets, which is slated to pay him $32.5 million in 2023 with a $32.5 million option for 2024. Which, of course, requires also assuming that the sprained UCL that ended his 2021 season after 15 starts stays in the past.

But if it does, the two-time Cy Young Award winner will have little reason not to use his opt out. Numerous stats point to deGrom as the best pitcher in baseball over the last four years, up to and including his league-best WAR at FanGraphs and Baseball Reference.

Though deGrom will be off his age-34 season, even a shorter deal for him could potentially top Max Scherzer's record-setting average annual value of $43.3 million. 

2. SS Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox*

Bogaerts would be turning away $60 million guaranteed through 2025 if he were to opt out after 2022, yet ESPN's Joon Lee reported that's what the 29-year-old plans on doing.

Understandably so, at that. Five shortstops have signed for upwards of $140 million just since last spring, and Bogaerts indeed has the goods to be next in line. Shortstop is a relatively light offensive position, so it's no small thing that he's been the most valuable offensive player at the position since 2018.

The only thing that keeps Bogaerts from claiming the top spot on this list are the questions hanging over his glove. His metrics are not good, and arguably even bad enough to necessitate conversations about a move to second or third base.

1. SS Trea Turner, Los Angeles Dodgers

Considering what he's capable of, it's a little astonishing that Turner only just earned his first All-Star nod in 2021.

As he leads the majors with 201 thefts since 2016, nobody is doing more to keep the stolen base alive than Turner. The 28-year-old has also really come into his own at the plate over the last two seasons, hitting an MLB-high .330 while also slugging .551. The latter is up from .470 between 2016 and 2019.

Turner's defensive metrics at shortstop have gone up and down, but have generally leaned positive. That's not the only advantage he has over Bogaerts, as he's also younger even though both players will technically play their age-29 season in 2022.

Even if his personal statistics in the playoffs aren't much to speak of, yet another bullet point on Turner's resume is that he has a World Series ring from the Washington Nationals' victory in 2019. So as he's otherwise done it all, signing a megadeal is the next logical step for him.

---

Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference and FanGraphs.

Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani leads the field of 2021 Silver Slugger winners in Major League Baseball. 

The awards, which are voted on by MLB managers and coaches, are given to the best offensive player at each position in each league. 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays, Juan Soto of the Washington Nationals and Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres are among the other notable winners. 

---

2021 Silver Slugger Winners

Catcher: Salvador Perez (Kansas City Royals); Buster Posey (San Francisco Giants)

First base: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Toronto Blue Jays); Freddie Freeman (Atlanta Braves)

Second base: Marcus Semien (Toronto Blue Jays); Ozzie Albies (Atlanta Braves)

Third base: Rafael Devers (Boston Red Sox); Austin Riley (Atlanta Braves)

Shortstop: Xander Bogaerts (Boston Red Sox); Fernando Tatis Jr. (San Diego Padres)

Outfield: Cedric Mullins (Baltimore Orioles), Teoscar Hernandez (Toronto Blue Jays), Aaron Judge (New York Yankees); Juan Soto (Washington Nationals), Nick Castellanos (Cincinnati Reds), Bryce Harper (Philadelphia Phillies)

Designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Angels)

Pitcher: Max Fried (Atlanta Braves)

---

Ohtani was the biggest story in baseball all season for his dominance on the mound and at the plate. He posted a .257/.372/.592 slash line with 46 homers and 100 RBI in 155 games. 

MLB already bestowed the 27-year-old with the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award, which has only been given out 16 times since its inception in 1998. The last people to receive it were iconic Los Angeles Dodgers announcer Vin Scully and former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter in 2014.

The managers and coaches around the league added to Ohtani's trophy collection by naming him the Silver Slugger winner as a designated hitter. 

Shohei Ohtani has the 2nd-most HR (46) in a single season by an @Angels hitter.

He trails Troy Glaus (2000) by 1. pic.twitter.com/maB8LyHpEW

— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) October 3, 2021

Per Codify Baseball, Ohtani became the fifth player in MLB history to hit at least 46 homers and steal 26 bases in a single season. He joined Barry Bonds in 1993 (46 homers, 29 steals), Larry Walker in 1997 (49 homers, 33 steals), Jose Canseco in 1998 (46 homers, 29 steals) and Alfonso Soriano in 2006 (46 homers, 41 steals). 

From that group, Bonds and Walker won MVP awards. Ohtani could join them when the AL MVP award is given out Nov. 18. 

Guerrero, who is competing against Ohtani for AL MVP honors, also received a Silver Slugger for his breakout 2021. The Blue Jays superstar set an MLB record for most homers by a player in his age-22 or younger season:

Most HR in single season, age 22 or younger:

2021 Vladimir Guerrero Jr: 48
1953 Eddie Mathews: 47
1937 Joe DiMaggio: 46

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 3, 2021

He ranked in the top five among AL players in nine major offensive categories:

#BlueJays Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Final AL Ranks:

.311 AVG (3rd)
.401 OBP (1st)
.601 SLG (1st)
1.002 OPS (1st)
123 R (1st)
188 H (2nd)
363 TB (1st)
48 HR (T-1st)
111 RBI (T-5th)#WeAreBlueJays pic.twitter.com/d961Bve4Od

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) October 4, 2021

Even though the Blue Jays came up short in their quest to make the playoffs, their future is extremely bright thanks to a young core led by Guerrero. His ability with the bat should earn him many more Silver Slugger trophies in the future. 

As great as Guerrero's 2021 was, the crown of best overall hitter in MLB belongs to Soto. The Nationals superstar, who also won the Silver Slugger award last year, also played this season at age 22. He got off to a slow start, at least in the power department, with a .270/.395/.387 slash line through May 31. 

After that, though, Soto posted a .329/.489/.589 slash line over his final 111 games. The Dominican Republic native led MLB in on-base percentage for the second consecutive season. His .465 mark was the highest by a player in a 162-game campaign since Chipper Jones in 2008 (.470). 

Soto also led the league in walks (145) and had the best walk-to-strikeout ratio in MLB (1.56). The Nationals had a rough season, finishing last in the NL East with a 65-97 record. They also traded Trea Turner and Max Scherzer to the Los Angeles Dodgers in July. 

As the Nationals enter a rebuilding phase, Soto is going to be the driving force behind everything they do. He keeps getting better at the plate and is arguably the most impactful hitter in MLB. 

Even though the eyes of Major League Baseball fans are trained squarely on the World Series, the end of the Fall Classic will bring about many questions for all 30 teams. 

This is certainly going to be a busy offseason, especially given the uncertainty around the labor negotiations and the likelihood of a work stoppage when the current CBA expires on Dec. 2.   

That is going to have a significant impact on when business will get done. Free agency officially starts five days after the World Series ends, but history has shown that teams don't usually make deals for marquee players until the winter meetings at the earliest. 

All of that is worth keeping in mind for the future. For now, though, there is plenty of buzz going on about some of the biggest players who could be on the move this offseason. 

---

Xander Bogaerts Preparing to Hit Free Agency After 2022

After trading Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to the start of the 2020 season, the long-term future of the Boston Red Sox was tied directly to Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers turning into All-Stars. 

That mission was accomplished in 2021, as both players were named to the Midsummer Classic and played key roles in the Red Sox reaching the American League Championship Series. 

Devers and Bogaerts remain under contract to the Red Sox next season, but things get murky beyond that. 

Per ESPN's Joon Lee, Bogaerts is planning on using the opt out in his contract after next season to become a free agent. 

The Red Sox signed Bogaerts to a six-year, $120 million contract before the 2019 season. The deal includes a $20 million player option for 2023, per Spotrac. 

Timing is a crucial part of free agency. Bogaerts would almost certainly attract a lot of attention if he could opt out this offseason, but he would also be competing with the likes of Corey Seager and Carlos Correa as the top shortstop. 

The top potential free-agent shortstops after next season include Tim Anderson and Trea Turner, but there's a steep drop to in talent after those two players. Dansby Swanson, who only has one full season with an OPS over .800 in his career (2020), would likely be No. 3. 

Bogaerts will be 30 years old after next season, but he's remained a quality defensive shortstop even as he's gotten older. The three-time All-Star ranked eighth among all qualified shortstops in FanGraphs defensive value (8.3) and ninth in out of zone plays (106) in 2021. 

Hitting is one thing that Bogaerts has never struggled to do. He has a .290/.353/.459 career slash line and has slugged at least .493 in each of the last four seasons. 

As long as Bogaerts has another strong season in 2022, there's no reason for him not to see what the market has to offer him. 

---

Anthony Rizzo Hopeful for Yankees Reunion

A disappointing 2021 season has left the New York Yankees with a lot of things to evaluate as they look to improve next year. 

First base is one area that could have an opening, depending on what the Yankees want to do with Anthony Rizzo. 

If Rizzo has his way, he will be wearing pinstripes next season. Bob Klapisch of the Newark Star-Ledger cited a family member as saying that Rizzo is "quite eager" to return to New York in 2022. 

According to a family member, Anthony Rizzo is quite eager to return to #Yankees in 2022. That’s an important first step, assuming NYY want him back. Have to assume they do.

— Bob Klapisch (@BobKlap) October 25, 2021

The Yankees will have nine free agents this offseason. Rizzo, Corey Kluber and Brett Gardner are the most prominent in that group. It seems unlikely that Gardner, whose .689 OPS in 2021 was his worst since he was a rookie (.582 in 2008), will be back. 

Kluber could go either way. The two-time American League Cy Young winner was effective when he pitched (3.83 ERA), but injuries limited him to 80 innings over 16 starts. He's only pitched 116.2 innings over the past three seasons combined and will turn 36 on April 10. 

Rizzo was a solid hitter in 2021 between his time with the Yankees and Chicago Cubs. The three-time All-Star had a .248/.344/.440 slash line in 141 games. 

The first-base market looks strong at the top, with Freddie Freeman and Brandon Belt leading the way.

Belt is a volatile player because of his injury history. He has missed at least 25 games in six of the past eight seasons, including 65 in 2021. Given that he will turn 34 on April 20, betting on him staying healthy going forward seems like a high risk. 

Freeman is one of the most durable players in MLB. The reigning NL MVP has only missed four games in the past four seasons combined. 

The Yankees could also bet on Luke Voit staying healthy. He's been a productive offensive player when he's been able to play. The 30-year-old has a .267/.357/.510 slash line in five MLB seasons, but that only covers 351 games because of injuries. 

Rizzo can't be counted to produce at the same level he did at his peak with the Cubs, but he just might end up being the safest option for the Yankees at first base because he rarely gets hurt. 

---

Cubs Reportedly Shopping Willson Contreras

The Cubs are mired in the early stages of a rebuild that started last season by trading most of the remaining core from their 2016 World Series roster, including Rizzo, Javier Baez, Kyle Schwarber and Kris Bryant. 

One of the few holdovers from that squad is Willson Contreras, though his future with the club is very much uncertain. 

Per The Athletic's Sahadev Sharma, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer "will almost certainly shop" Contreras this offseason if the two sides can't agree to a long-term extension. 

Contreras is a difficult player to evaluate for a new contract because his career has been mired by inconsistency. He ranked 39th among all catchers last season in framing, per Baseball Savant.

It looked like Contreras made significant strides in that area during the 2020 season, when he ranked 10th overall.

The Venezuela native threw out a career-low 21 percent of basestealers in 2021, per Baseball Reference. It was his first time finishing worse than the league average in that category. 

Contreras' bat does put him among the better backstops in MLB. The two-time All-Star ranked fourth out of 15 catchers with at least 400 plate appearances in homers (21), fifth in slugging percentage (.438), sixth in on-base percentage (.340) and fifth in weighted on-base average (.337), per FanGraphs.

The 29-year-old made $6.65 million in 2021 and has one more year of arbitration remaining before becoming a free agent. 

Given the state of the Cubs roster coming off a 71-91 season, there's little incentive for the front office to keep Contreras. He plays a demanding position where few players can age gracefully. 

Buster Posey resurrected his career with the San Francisco Giants in part because of how he was managed. The 2012 NL MVP routinely only played two of three games in most series during the regular season. 

Contreras' up-and-down MLB career to this point does make him a risky gamble for any team. His upside is high enough to make him worth betting on, especially for a potential contender looking to upgrade its lineup.