On December 7, 2022, Xander Bogaerts made it official: he was leaving Boston and heading to San Diego. Shortly after exercising his opt-out with the Red Sox, the Aruban shortstop and the Padres agreed to an 11-year, $280 million contract — one of the largest deals ever signed by a player at his position, and the biggest in the history of Aruban baseball.
The Contract at a Glance
- Team: San Diego Padres
- Signed: December 7, 2022
- Length: 11 years (2023–2033)
- Total guaranteed value: $280 million
- Average annual value: $25.5 million
- 2026 salary: $25.5 million
- No-trade clause: Yes
How the Deal Is Structured
The contract pays a flat $25.5 million per year across all 11 seasons, with zero performance adjustments and no deferred money surprises. It is fully guaranteed, meaning Bogaerts collects every dollar regardless of on-field results or injuries. That kind of consistency — same number, every year, through 2033 — was exactly what both sides were looking for.
The Fine Print
The deal includes a no-trade clause, giving Bogaerts veto power over any potential trade. In MLB, a fully guaranteed contract is standard — teams cannot cut the salary or void the agreement due to poor performance. Bogaerts is protected through the final out of the 2033 season, no matter what happens along the way.
Where Bogaerts Ranks Among the Highest-Paid Players
- #19 — Largest contracts in MLB history
- #17 — Among position players (pitchers excluded)
- #33 — By 2026 annual salary across the league
Rankings based on total guaranteed value, without discounting deferred money. Data from Spotrac and Baseball-Reference as of August 11, 2026.
It’s not the biggest contract ever signed, but $280 million is firmly elite — a deal that reflects exactly what the mid-2020s market valued in a premium shortstop.
Before San Diego: His Previous Contracts
- Boston Red Sox: 2020–2025 extension, $120 million
Bogaerts reached the majors with Boston in 2013 and spent more than a decade with the Red Sox, including a 2018 World Series title. In 2020, the organization locked him up through 2025 with a $120 million extension. But when the opt-out window opened, he walked through it — and San Diego was ready with the biggest offer of his life.
Just like that, Bogaerts went from franchise veteran in Boston to the centerpiece of an ambitious Padres project on the California coast.
Career Earnings
Adding up every MLB contract he has signed, Bogaerts has earned $400 million in guaranteed money over his career. That figure covers base salaries, signing bonuses, and earned bonuses from MLB contracts only — it does not include endorsements or any earnings from leagues outside the United States.
