![]() “We’re continuing to try to push his ceiling as high as we possibly can, which is as a starter. Shortstop Xander Bogaerts and the San Diego Padres are in agreement on an 11-year, 280 million contract, a source familiar with the deal tells ESPN. ESPN's Jeff Passan reports the two sides have agreed on an 11-year, 280 million contract. “When you’re on the 40-man, you’re not just developing as a prospect you’re also direct support for the major league team,” said Haviland. The Boston Red Sox reportedly have lost their homegrown shortstop in free agency to the San Diego Padres. JULIO LUGO OBITUARY Julio Lugo was a former Major League Baseball shortstop who won the World Series in 2007 with the Boston Red Sox. The Sox, meanwhile, face a developmental dilemma. Scouts with other teams are split, some suggesting that it’s imperative to exhaust starting as an option with such a pitcher - maybe with some delivery tweaks - and others seeing him as a future bullpen lock. But can he execute those pitches well enough to remain in that role? Still, the Sox remain mindful of a tantalizing talent whose sinker can generate high ground-ball rates, while using that to anchor a mix that includes a slider, cutter, curveball, changeup, and four-seamer. Having to balance that with his development and seeing where we can get the most impact is something we have to talk about.” “We see him as a starter, but there’s a roster piece and a time piece. “Anytime something like this happens, you have to look at how the player is best positioned to have long-term success,” said Abraham. While he continues to show good velocity - regularly topping out at 98-99 - and his sinker-heavy arsenal has minimized damage (just one homer), he hasn’t gotten the kind of swing-and-miss numbers expected from a pitcher who throws as hard as he does, and he has more walks (27) than strikeouts (26). Mata entered the year needing to make a qualitative jump in control to stick as a starter, but instead has a strike rate below 60 percent in all but one of his starts. In seven starts at Triple A, he has a 5.61 ERA with the highest walk rate (20.6 percent) by a minor league pitcher with at least 25 innings. After finishing in last place in the American League East in 2022 Boston ultimately may be better in 2023, but will be. ![]() ![]() Yet that promise hasn’t carried over to the season. The Boston Red Sox certainly are going to look different in 2023. He likewise impressed this year in spring training, both with his stuff and his purpose. A year ago, the Sox were encouraged by his midseason return from Tommy John surgery he’d undergone in early 2021. Still, even a temporary interruption is significant against the backdrop of a ticking clock on Mata’s career. Xander Jan Bogaerts nicknamed the X-Man and Bogey or Bogie, is an Aruban professional baseball shortstop for the San Diego Padres of Major League. Hamilton mainly plays shortstop, but he can also play center field. Going Deep: Dan Shaughnessy on future of Boston sports But Boston manager Alex Cora has been keeping tabs on the improvement of Hamilton, who now has a solid bat to go along with his blazing speed.
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