Christian Vazquez: Bogaerts ‘deserved more respect' from Red Sox

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Christian Vazquez understands why Boston Red Sox fans are upset with the front office for failing to sign homegrown shortstop Xander Bogaerts.

The Red Sox had a chance to sign Bogaerts to an extension before the 2022 season, but the two sides reportedly were about $ 100 million apart in negotiations. That led to Bogaerts opting out of his deal in the offseason to become a free agent. In December, he signed an 11-year deal worth $ 280 million with the San Diego Padres.

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How the Red Sox handled the Bogaerts situation didn't sit well with Vazquez, who was traded to the Houston Astros before the 2022 MLB trade deadline. Boston's longtime catcher shared his thoughts on the matter during a recent appearance on Audacy's "The Bradfo Sho" podcast.

“I was thinking he was coming back to finish his career there. He is a big part of that organization before, but it’s a business. I don’t know, he’ll look weird in another uniform," Vazquez said.

“The people don’t get the inside of what happened inside the clubhouse and all that stuff. He deserved more respect from the front office, everybody. He’s a star, I think you need to respect that. Respect what he did for the organization – he got two rings with that organization. I feel like he deserved more than that."

Both Bogaerts and Vazquez will debut with new teams in 2023. Shortly after Bogaerts joined the Padres, Vazquez signed a three-year contract worth $ 30 million with the Minnesota Twins.

The Red Sox intended to replace Bogaerts at shortstop with Trevor Story, but that plan backfired after it was revealed Story needed elbow surgery that would sideline him for most of the 2022 campaign. Instead, it will be utilityman Kiké Hernandez at shortstop while the newly-acquired Adam Duvall takes his spot in center field.

Reese McGuire, acquired from the Chicago White Sox at the 2022 trade deadline, is expected to pick up where he left off as Boston's starting catcher.

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