There are a handful of marquee players who can add additional star power to this offseason's free-agent market if they opt out of their current contracts. We take a look at each case and weigh the pros and cons of each player's decision.

 

Xander Bogaerts

Position: SS
2023 age: 30
Remaining contract: 3 years, $60M
Should he opt out: Yes

It's a no-brainer for Bogaerts to test the open market as it's all but a formality that he'll soar past the three years, $60 million he has remaining on his contract.

Bogaerts made no secret of his affection for the only franchise he's ever known and his desire to finish his career with the Red Sox. Boston's signing of Trevor Story last year was seen at the time as a precursor to Bogaerts' departure, with Story sliding over to his natural position of shortstop. That doesn't appear to be the case anymore, with Story looking likely to remain at second base, regardless of whether Bogaerts re-signs or the Red Sox look at other shortstop options.

Entering the 2022 campaign, there were questions about how long Bogaerts would be able to stay at shortstop as an inconsistent defensive player. The 30-year-old quieted those critics with one of the best defensive seasons of his career. Even if the Red Sox look for a younger player to replace him, Bogaerts sent a message to other teams that he might be able to continue at shortstop for a few more seasons before a potential positional switch.

Although there might still be some lingering questions about his defensive value moving forward, there's no doubt that Bogaerts is one of the best hitters in the game after posting the second-highest wRC+ of his career this past season. He might not command the same type of deals that Trea Turner, Carlos Correa, and Dansby Swanson are likely to secure, but it remains likely that a team will give Bogaerts a five- or six-year deal for at least nine figures

 

Carlos Rodon

Position: SP
2023 age: 30
Remaining contract: 1 year, $22.5M
Should he opt out: Yes

Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi admitted in early October that he expects Rodon to exercise his opt-out clause after a career season. The All-Star left-hander will become one of the best pitchers available and should easily top the two-year, $44-million pact he signed with San Francisco in March.

After a breakout campaign with the White Sox in 2021, Rodon proved his performance wasn't a fluke with a Cy Young-worthy season for the Giants. The 29-year-old posted a 2.88 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 237 strikeouts over a career-high 178 innings (31 starts). He also authored the lowest FIP (2.25) among qualified hurlers in the majors and the second-best fWAR (6.2) for pitchers.

Rodon ended up essentially taking a one-year deal with San Francisco because injury concerns have always been an issue. Until this season, he never pitched more than 165 innings in a year, and that came back in 2016. His sustained run of good health in 2022 should convince at least one club to dish out a deal that could be as long as six years.