The Boston Red Sox are off to a slow start of the season, if we can still call being in mid-May as such.
The Sox are 11-19, which is the worst record in the AL East division.
It’s disappointing from a team that went to last year’s American League Championship Series.
It’s still early, and we have seen many teams rise from lousy starts, but the hapless Red Sox don’t look like they are on the verge of figuring things out and they play in one of the most competitive divisions in baseball.
There is always the chance, therefore, that they decide to sell near the trade deadline.
And that could involve one of their best players: shortstop Xander Bogaerts.
MLB insider Jon Morosi has already identified a team that would be interested in Bogaerts.
“A Xander Bogaerts trade to the #STLCards could be realistic this summer if the #RedSox continue to struggle, as I discussed with @LaurenShehadi on @MLBNetwork earlier today,” Morosi tweeted on Wednesday.
A Xander Bogaerts trade to the #STLCards could be realistic this summer if the #RedSox continue to struggle, as I discussed with @LaurenShehadi on @MLBNetwork earlier today. @MLB pic.twitter.com/xGZxKjeHKb
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) May 11, 2022
An Idea Worth Exploring
It is, in fact, an idea that makes loads of sense.
The Red Sox already have a potential fallback option at shortstop in Trevor Story, who they signed to a six-year, $140 million contract before the season started.
He is currently playing second base because Bogaerts is the starter at shortstop.
The Cardinals, on the other hand, have a long-term need for a shortstop, since they just demoted Paul DeJong because of his lousy performance.
Tommy Edman is best suited at other infield positions.
Bogaerts, who is slashing .354/.402/.478 with two homers in 122 plate appearances, still has four years left on his $120 million deal.
However, he could opt out of his deal after 2022, complicating things for the Sox.
It’s certainly an idea that could work out for both teams, depending on what the Cardinals send to the Red Sox.
