Xander Bogaerts can be better than this

During his tenure with the San Diego Padres, Peter Seidler demonstrated a willingness to invest heavily in building a strong team. Seidler's most notable moves included signing Manny Machado to a substantial contract worth $470 million and securing Fernando Tatis Jr. for 14 years at a cost of $340 million. Infielder Jake Cronenworth, a reliable infielder at multiple positions, signed a more modest deal, with a seven-year, $80 million contract.

Although Seidler's spending might seem excessive, it was viewed as necessary to secure the team's future success. Machado's Hall-of-Fame trajectory and leadership on and off the field made his contract a justifiable investment. Contrarily, Bogaerts' contract has been a puzzling decision for many fans and analysts.

Despite his star status during his time with the Boston Red Sox, Bogaerts' contract with the Padres seemed like a significant overpay at the time. The Padres had to outbid other teams, including the Red Sox and Cubs, to secure Bogaerts' services. The 11-year, $280 million deal was seen as an extreme overpayment, especially given Bogaerts' age of 30 at the time.

Since joining the Padres, Bogaerts has struggled offensively, with a decline in numbers in each subsequent year. Injuries have also impacted his performance, with a broken shoulder and foot contributing to his struggles in 2024 and 2025. However, in 2026, Bogaerts has been healthy, despite facing a challenging season. Despite his age and declining numbers, Bogaerts still possesses strong defensive skills at shortstop, making him a valuable asset to the team.