SAN DIEGO -- If the Red Sox are hopeful of getting a chance to match or top the last best offer presented to free agent shortstop Xander Bogaerts, that's unlikely to happen.
Scott Boras, who represents Bogaerts, was asked whether the Sox would get the courtesy of matching what's on the table, said: "We're not the matching kind. We let teams know they have to assert, we don't ever hold back from reaching an agreement with any teams and certainly, we don't give market preference to anyone. I think the free agent right would be damaged.''
There are instances in the industry when a free agent might allow his former team one last chance to match the best offer he has. But that won't happen here, and on Monday, Chaim Bloom seemed prepared for that eventuality.
"I don't think you ever have that guarantee in free agency with anybody,'' he said. "That's not always how free agency works. Every player can run it the way they want to, but I don't think just because we're his most recent organization, that's not owed to us.''
As he's done on at least one previous instance this winter, Boras praised Red Sox ownership's history, labeling them "four-star. They win and pursue winning.''
Boras said Bogaerts has met with a number of teams recently, and none have expressed an interest to move Bogaerts off shortstop.
"It's been a real education for him over the last month,'' Boras said of the experience.
He added that while there's no scheduled face-to-face meeting with Red Sox management in place, "(The Red Sox) have been meeting with Xander for years.''
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For at least the third and fourth time this winter, the Red Sox came up short in bidding for a free agent.
Reliever Tommy Kahnle agreed to a two-year, $11.5 million deal with the New York Yankees. The Red Sox were thought to have made a nearly similar offer, but Kahnle opted for the Yankees instead. He had pitched for them from 2017-2020 before requiring Tommy John surgery. He pitched just one inning in 2020, not at all in 2021 and then 12.1 innings for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season.
Next came, Andrew Heaney, who, according to the Boston Globe, got a better offer from the Sox, but took less to go pitch in Texas, nearer to his Oklahoma home.
The Sox had previously lost out on first baseman/DH Jose Abreu, who took a three-year deal with the Houston Astros, and pitcher Zack Eflin, who chose a three-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays rather than an identical one from the Red Sox.
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On Wednesday afternoon, the annual Rule 5 draft will be held.
The Red Sox have 39 players currently on their 40-man roster, so they have room to make a selection. The most successful Red Sox Rule 5 pick in recent history, of course, is Garrett Whitlock, who was selected from the Yankees after 2020.
As for the Sox, they stand to lose some minor leaguers. Among the potential losses are starter Thaddeus Ward and reliever Ryan Fernandez.
Ward came back in 2022 following Tommy John surgery the previous season.
Fernandez is little known, having been chosen in the 22nd round of the 2018 draft. His overall numbers were suspect as he split last year between High A Greenville and Double A Portland, but he did manage to strikeout 56 in 39.2 innings and has a fastball that regularly registers in the upper 90s.
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Catching is a position the Sox are looking to upgrade. The team discussed Christian Vazquez with his agent, and a return can't be ruled out. The Sox are also said to be involved in trade talks with the Oakland A's for catcher Sean Murphy, who would command a huge return...Commissioner Rob Manfred addressed a meeting of the Baseball Writers Association of America and said the Red Sox are in the running to host the All-Star Game in either 2025 or 2027....In the first MLB Draft Pick Lottery, the Red Sox, failing to move into the top six, were awarded the 14th overall pick in the 2023 draft. That's where they were scheduled to pick before the lottery, based on their won-loss record in 2022....The Sox had some conversations with the Milwaukee Brewers about second baseman Kolton Wong before he was traded to Seattle last week, and Bloom, without confirming those talks, said: "Nothing that we've explored would close the door on (Bogaerts).''...Bloom said the Sox have had inquiries about some players on their major league roster in trade talks, but added: "It's been heavy in a lot of cases. But I think the thing we need to look at is, 'OK, it's great that there's interest in this player. But if we move him, where does that leave us and are we actually better off?' '' Obviously, if we think the answer is yes, then we'll pursue something. But we're trying to add to the group, not subtract from it.''