Scott Boras: Blue Jays expressed interest in Xander Bogaerts during free agency

When it was changing into obvious that the Boston Red Sox and Xander Bogaerts weren’t going to come back to an settlement on a brand new deal, many groups expressed curiosity within the star shortstop, together with the Toronto Blue Jays, in keeping with agent Scott Boras.

Speaking to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, Boras indicated that after Boston made the choice to prioritize a deal for Rafael Devers, they had been going to should discover a new dwelling for Bogaerts. The 30-year-old would finally signal an 11-year, $280 million contract with the San Diego Padres.

“It was just really clear to us there was a separation where Boston was going to go for Bogaerts,” Boras mentioned, “in comparison with the place the market was. They in all probability decided they had been going to signal [Rafael] Devers, and had been going to pay solely one in every of them. So we knew on the forefront that Bogey could be someplace apart from Boston.

“Minnesota, the Cubs, the Blue Jays, they were really after him. But we kind of knew the Padres’ guy was Bogaerts (after Trea Turner rejected their offer). They wanted that personality, that leadership in that locker room.”

Bogaerts slashed .307/.377/.456 whereas recording 15 dwelling runs and 73 RBIs in 150 video games this season.

Toronto has been trying to make enhancements to their infield the previous few seasons buying gold-glove third baseman Matt Chapman from the Oakland Athletics final season.

Instead of constructing a critical push for Bogaerts, the Blue Jays targeted on upgrading the beginning rotation by signing Chris Bassitt to a three-year, $63 million deal. They additionally revamped the outfield, buying and selling for Dalton Varsho and bringing in Kevin Kiermaier.