Surviving the Xander Bogaerts contract

Gaslamp Ball's Cheri Bell argues that the San Diego Padres must find ways to maximize their return on Xander Bogaerts, who remains under contract for seven more seasons. Bogaerts signed an 11-year, $280 million deal before the 2023 season but experienced his worst offensive year in 2026, struggling significantly against offspeed pitches before a late adjustment with a split grip yielded strong September and postseason results.

Bell notes that while Bogaerts remains an above-average defensive shortstop, his aging profile may eventually require a move to first base rather than designated hitter. The article suggests that manager Craig Stammen's decision to drop Bogaerts in the batting order helps mitigate the impact of the massive long-term contract alongside fellow veteran Manny Machado.