Chicago Cubs Rumors: Insider provides great update on Xander Bogaerts

At the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings, the talk involving the free-agent shortstops centers around the Chicago Cubs. After Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts provided the front office with a "green light" to spend aggressively this offseason in order to return to contention, another report surfaced that shed light on a meeting that took place between the Cubs and Carlos Correa on Monday. The Cubs have also had a previous meeting with free-agent shortstop Xander Bogaerts and it is believed that meeting included Jon Lester selling Bogaerts on the idea of coming to Chicago. Lester's pitch to Bogaerts may have worked as Boston Red Sox analyst Marino Pepen offered the following update.

The tweet translates to:

"TODAY: #Cubs pose the main threat to #RedSox by the services of Xander Bogaerts. They are looking for a poster SS and have an open wallet... #WinterMeetings #MLB"

- Marino Pepen, Twitter.

There have been conflicting reports this offseason regarding where things stand between Bogaerts and the Red Sox. After the Red Sox reportedly lowballed a previous offer to Bogaerts. there was a belief that the shortstop has severed all ties with the Red Sox organization. Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom spoke with reporters on Monday and reiterated that the team still has an interest in re-signing Bogaerts.

"A report in The Boston Globe on Sunday, citing a source, said that the Red Sox had yet to make a “competitive” offer to Bogaerts. “It’s not for me to decide or announce what’s competitive or what isn’t. We’ve certainly made offers to him, and we’ve certainly been engaged and we’re going to stay engaged,” Bloom said."

- MLB's Official Website

The last time that the Red Sox lowballed an offer to a free agent that the Cubs were interested in, it was Lester in the offseason ahead of the 2015 Major League Baseball regular season. Lester's signing with the Cubs that offseason was the igniting spark for the team returning to postseason contention. Signing Bogaerts this offseason, could have a similar impact on the Cubs.