The Boston Red Sox are hoping to improve upon an 81-81 finish from last season. While the pitching staff, specifically the rotation, has been rebuilt, manager Alex Cora will also need more from his position players.
Part of that comes from signing Alex Bregman to fill the gap at second base. Bregman will help make a push toward the World Series. However, his double-play partner will need to take steps forward as well.
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Trevor Story has fought through major injuries his first three years in Boston, but he hasn’t performed when healthy. He’s produced lower than a .740 OPS and a strikeout rate of 31% or higher every year. When you’re being paid $140 million over six years, those numbers aren’t good enough.
The first priority for Story needs to be his health and durability. In the last three seasons, he’s recorded a total of 609 at-bats with just 94 in 2024. By comparison, he had 526 at-bats during the 2021 season. Story can’t produce at all, much less at a high level, when he’s not on the field.
Despite the injuries, Story has produced 4.0 bWAR over the 163 games he’s played in the last three seasons. His defensive value is irreplaceable from the Red Sox’s perspective. If the bat can get going, his value will shoot up even more.
With Marcelo Mayer ready and waiting to become the shortstop of the future, Story has a little more motivation to stay healthy. Mayer has been electric in spring training, and Story could very well be feeling the pressure of losing his starting position.
It’s now or never for Story in Boston. His contract has an opt-out after the 2025 season, and losing his place at shortstop would be the easiest way for him to trigger the opt-out.
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