Cubs Reportedly Expected to Make Contract Offer to Xander Bogaerts Sunday

The Cubs have been connected in some way to all four of the top free agent shortstops, so take this latest report with a huge grain of salt. According to Marino Pepén, who provides Spanish-language Red Sox coverage, the Cubs are very interested in Xander Bogaerts and are expected to make a contract offer by Sunday evening.

CONFIRMADO:
Los #Cubs están muy interesados en Xander Bogaerts.

HOY:
Aún no han presentado oferta, se espera lo hagan en las próximas horas…#MLB

— Marino Pepén (@Marino_Pepen) December 4, 2022

There’s a lot of gray area here, of course, because this could simply be a preliminary offer meant to be little more than a starting point. It could even be a ploy to get one of the other shortstops to engage with them. And hey, maybe Jed Hoyer shocks everyone and sets the market with an offer Bogaerts can’t turn down.

To that end, there have been conflicting reports about the shortstop’s relationship with the Red Sox. Shortly after a note that he was said to have severed all ties to the team came another that he would grant Boston the ability to match any offer he received.

We may have answers very soon, so buckle up.