Rafael Devers, Don Orsillo react to Bogaerts leaving Red Sox

Share

Thanks for the memories, Xander Bogaerts.

That's all the Boston Red Sox and their fans have after watching the veteran shortstop agree to a 11-year, $280 million contract with the San Diego Padres, per multiple reports late Wednesday night.

Bogaerts' exit will be tough to swallow in Boston, where he won two World Series titles over 10 seasons with the Red Sox and was one of the most beloved athletes in the entire region. Bogaerts also was the team's best player outside third baseman and close friend Rafael Devers.

Early Thursday morning, Devers took to Instagram to say goodbye to his teammate of six years.

"Thank you for teaching me many things," Devers wrote, as translated from Spanish to English. "I’m always going to admire you as a person and as a baller, the best. You’re an example to follow."

Tomase: Red Sox will never live down botching of Bogaerts situation

Devers will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season, so Red Sox fans will hope he doesn't follow Bogaerts' "example" of signing a lucrative free-agent deal elsewhere. That said, the vibes don't feel great in the aftermath of Bogaerts' departure, as Red Sox utility man Kike Hernandez used a simple emoji on Instagram to sum up his thoughts about Bogaerts leaving.

One person who is excited about Bogaerts moving from Boston to San Diego, however, is Padres broadcaster Don Orsillo, who will be reunited with Bogaerts after his unceremonious exit from NESN in 2015.

Few could have imagined back in 2015 that Orsillo one day would call games for a team featuring Bogaerts that wasn't the Red Sox. But times change -- especially in Boston, where Chaim Bloom has now parted with two franchise cornerstones in Mookie Betts and Bogaerts since taking over in 2019.

Contact Us