Bogaerts 'very thankful' for reported raise in 2016

After watching Xander Bogaerts earn his first career Silver Slugger award last year, the Boston Red Sox will reportedly pay their 23-year-old shortstop $650,500 in 2016 - almost a 20 percent increase over last year's salary, and $143,000 more than the league minimum.

Bogaerts, who has virtually no control over his salary as a pre-arbitration player, said Wednesday he appreciates the raise.

"I'm very thankful to be part of this organization," Bogaerts told Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. "I know they treat their guys top class. I’m very thankful for what they did."

Not all organizations can afford to be as generous to their young stars who aren't yet eligible for salary arbitration, though. Last week, Gerrit Cole expressed his displeasure over the $541,000 salary he'll receive from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2016 after earning the exact same amount last season, when he finished fourth in National League Cy Young award voting.

"When you perform at a level that draws the praise of management, teammates, coaches and fans, you expect appropriate compensation," Cole said. "I understand the business of this game, but it is hard to accept that a year of performance success does not warrant an increase in pay."

Bogaerts, however, will have more income at his disposal this summer after hitting .320/.355/.421 with seven homers and 35 doubles in 156 games last season, while managing more WAR (4.3) than every other AL shortstop.