Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora believes his team will be ready to re-sign Xander Bogaerts if the star shortstop decides to test free agency during the offseason.
"I do believe, going into whatever situation comes up in the upcoming weeks or months ... we're going to be prepared to bring Xander back," Cora said on the "Off the Pike" podcast. "You know, obviously, it takes two. Like I've always said, the ball's in his court right now.
"He's the one that has to decide whether he's going to opt in or opt out, right? And we know about his agent. I have a great relationship with Scott (Boras), and we'll see what happens."
Bogaerts appears poised to hit the open market after the 2022 campaign thanks to an opt-out clause. The 29-year-old has accrued a .314/.382/.467 slash line with 14 homers, 68 RBIs, and an AL-best 6.0 fWAR among shortstops this season.
The Red Sox and the four-time All-Star were reportedly $100 million apart in extension talks this spring. He signed a six-year, $120-million deal in 2019.
Bogaerts has spent his entire 10-year career with Boston, collecting four Silver Slugger Awards and winning two World Series rings.
