The Latest Breaking News from Xander Bogaerts

The Phillies committed $300 million to shortstop Trea Turner. The Mets are set to splurge on ace pitcher Justin Verlander. Meanwhile, the Braves have signed no free agents of note while their top priority, shortstop Dansby Swanson, remains on the market.

SAN DIEGO — Four years ago, John Middleton gassed up his private jet — the white Bombardier Challenger with a Phillies “P” on the tail — and flew to Las Vegas twice to meet with Bryce Harper and help close the largest deal in franchise history.

Turner’s deal should set the market price for the three remaining marquee free agent shortstops with Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson.

Are the Red Sox still in the business of accomplishing Plan A or are they simply a second-tier franchise that now collects the scraps when the top teams are through?

PHILADELPHIA — The news that the Phillies are planning to be without Bryce Harper until after the All-Star Break brings some clarity and some confusion to their offseason.

Here are the free-agent signings and trades that Boston should make to return to contention next season.

ATLANTA — One year after Freddie Freeman up and left the Braves, Dansby Swanson can up and leave. (Let’s get this out of the way: Swanson, like Freeman, is represented by Excel Sports Management.) This isn’t to say Swanson will, but he might. As a public service, we offer talking…

The Orioles’ 40-man roster got deeper Tuesday evening when Baltimore added a handful of its top prospects to protect them from being selected in next month’s Rule 5 draft.

It’s hard to imagine a sweeter vindication for Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski than the one he could orchestrate for himself this offseason.