Trevor Story Surprises By Signing 6-Year Pact With Boston Red Sox

Like the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, the Boston Red Sox have acquired a star shortstop with the intention of playing him at second base.

Trevor Story, who had spent his entire career with the Colorado Rockies, has agreed to a six-year, $140 million contract that contains a pair of opt-out clauses plus a $20 million club option.

The signing was a surprise not only because of the Sunday morning timing but also because Boston already has a stud at shortstop in Xander Bogaerts.

Signing the 29-year-old Story protects the Red Sox in the event Bogaerts opts out of his contract after the 2022 season.

Should Story slide to short next season, that would follow a similar pattern in Los Angeles, where Trea Turner finished 2021 at second before returning to short to replace departed free agent Corey Seager, who signed a 10-year contract with the Texas Rangers.

According to both ESPN and The Athletic, Boston manager Alex Cora confirmed that he will use Story at second – a position that has been a revolving door for the Red Sox since the heyday of former MVP Dustin Pedroia.

Versatile Kiki Hernández, the club’s main second baseman last year, is expected to receive most of his playing time in the outfield.

Story, who hit 158 home runs over the last six seasons, should find Fenway Park almost as hitter-friendly as Coors Field, where the thin, mile-high air of Denver has helped many hitters since the expansion team began play in 1993.

The signing was a surprise for both Story, the last unsigned member of a half-dozen star shortstops who tested free agency, and the Red Sox, who had added only pitchers Michael Wacha, Jake Diekman, and Rich Hill and reacquired Jackie Bradley, Jr. in a multi-player deal that sent Hunter Renfroe to Milwaukee.

Story had been linked to the New York Yankees, who have several blue-chip shortstops in the high minors but don’t consider any of them ready for promotion in 2022. The Yankees traded last week for stopgap Isiah Kiner-Falefa, whose glove is better than his bat.

Because he earned $17,500,000 from the Colorado Rockies last year, Story had been hoping to receive contract offers significantly higher than the one he received from the Red Sox. But his price went down after Carlos Correa, Javier Baez, Marcus Semien, Seager, and Andrelton Simmons signed elsewhere.

Story’s new contract allows him to opt out of the final two years, though the Red Sox can cancel that opt-out by activating a $25 million club option for a seventh year. Boston also has a $5 million buyout and has the right to trade the shortstop without his approval.

A right-handed batter who played in two All-Star games, Story carries a lifetime batting average of .272. He not only provides power but also speed, as he has 100 career stolen bases. His usually-stellar defense was hampered last year because of an elbow injury that sidelined him for part of the season.

Moving from short to second, where there are less demanding throws, should help both the player and the club as they decide how to proceed in future seasons.

Much depends upon Bogaerts, who would have three years and $60 million left on his Red Sox contract if he opts out to test free agency.

According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, Story turned down more money to stay in Colorado because he felt he the Rockies were not going to be competitive. The Red Sox, on the other hand, won 92 games last year and reached the post-season playoffs.