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Report: Phillies believed to have ‘real interest’ in free-agent SS Xander Bogaerts
Report: Phillies believed to have 'real interest' in free-agent SS Xander Bogaerts,The Phillies already have one of the highest 2023 payrolls in baseball, but after falling just two wins short of a World Series title, they seem ready to spend even more this winter.

Report: Phillies believed to have ‘real interest’ in free-agent SS Xander Bogaerts

The Philadelphia Phillies already have one of the highest 2023 payrolls in baseball, but after falling just two wins short of a World Series title, they seem ready to spend even more this winter. 

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Phillies have “real interest” in free agent shortstop Xander Bogaerts. 

Phillies are believed to have real interest in Xander Bogaerts, Phils honcho Dave Dombrowski has strong link to Bogaerts from his Boston days.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 13, 2022

As Heyman mentioned, Bogaerts already has a link to the City of Brotherly Love. 

Phillies’ president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski, then leading the Boston Red Sox front office, signed Bogaerts to a six-year, $120M deal in 2019. Earlier this week, Bogaerts declined the remaining three years ($120M) on his contract, becoming a free agent. 

The 30-year-old had another All-Star season in 2022, earning his fifth Silver Slugger Award at shortstop while leading the Red Sox in hits (171), walks (57), batting average (.307), and on-base percentage (.377). 

The Red Sox may still have an interest in retaining Bogaerts. In October, Red Sox’s chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said he viewed signing Bogaerts as a top priority, adding that the team’s position “hasn’t changed,” and they “want to keep him” in Boston. 

Meanwhile, since the free agent market opened, Bogaerts joins Trea Turner as shortstops linked to the Phillies. On Wednesday, Jayson Stark of The Athletic reported “some interesting rumblings” about Turner’s desire to come to Philadelphia.