Trevor Story’s Boston Debut Doesn’t Go As Planned But Rockies Record Suggests Better Days To Follow

The latest chapter in the Trevor Story story started in New York Friday, when the long-term shortstop of the Colorado Rockies became the new second baseman of the Boston Red Sox.

Relegated to the keystone because Boston has Xander Bogaerts at short, Story adds right-handed power to the Red Sox lineup. He also provides an insurance policy in the event Bogaerts pursues free agency this fall.

That is precisely what happened in Los Angeles last year, when the Dodgers traded for Washington shortstop Trea Turner and shifted him to second while Corey Seager played out the walk year in his contract.

When Seager signed a 10-year, $325 million deal with the Texas Rangers, the Dodgers moved Turner back to short and replaced Seager’s left-handed power with Freddie Freeman, also a free agent.

Story, 29, was one of a half-dozen star shortstops who entered free agency simultaneously after the 2021 campaign. Anxious to play for a contender, he had spurned all offers from the Rockies, who have not been a recent contender in the National League West.

In fact, Story has never reached the World Series, though he participated in three playoff series over two seasons (2017-2018) with Colorado.

The Red Sox lured him away with a six-year, $140 million deal that contains an opt-out clause after the fourth season. Boston manager Alex Cora revealed the Red Sox pursued Story with the fervor of a college football coach recruiting a top high school star.

“It was very college-like, that recruiting process,” Cora told NESN, the Red Sox broadcast network. “There was a team that we heard was being aggressive recruiting Trevor, so (chief baseball officer) Chaim (Bloom) gave me the green light.

“Kiké (Hernandez), he was the first guy to contact him. Then it was Xander (Bogaerts). That was the big call. Then Chris Sale, Nate Eovaldi. There was even a text by David (Ortiz).”

For Story, those messages sealed the deal. The 6’2″ native of the Dallas suburb of Irving, TX is a right-handed slugger who should enjoy the friendly confines of Fenway Park, where the Green Monster in left field will make an inviting target.

Story has 158 career home runs with a career peak of 37 in 2018.

At age 29, he should be in his prime. From 2016-21, he was one of three players (along with Mookie Betts and Jose Ramirez) with at least 150 home runs and 100 stolen bases. He also led the National League and ranked second in the majors with 254 extra-base hits over the last four seasons.

There’s no question about his offensive potential; Story has topped an .800 OPS (on-base plus slugging) five times. And he has exceeded 20 homers and 20 steals in each of the last three 162-game seasons.

But an elbow injury that sent him to the sidelines last April, a minor leg injury in August, and the arduous free-agent process, may have taken a toll.

Like Manny Machado a few years ago, Story was initially adamant about not changing positions. Limiting himself to contenders willing provide a long-term, nine-figure contract, he watched his window of opportunity close as fellow shortstops Javy Baez, Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, Andrelton Simmons, and Carlos Correa signed ahead of him.

Because of the 99-day lockout, Story signed late (on March 23, six days after the shortened exhibition season started) and had only 11 spring training at-bats – and one hit – with Boston. That translates to an .091 batting average – hardly befitting a .272 career hitter.

In his first official at-bat, Story fouled out to third against Yankees ace Gerrit Cole with a Red Sox runner on second in the top of the first inning Friday at Yankee Stadium in the season opener for both clubs. Story finished his first Boston game 0-for-5 when he fanned against Michael King with the lead run on second base in the top of the 11th. Boston went on to lose, 6-5 in 11 innings.

Should he stay at second, Story has the potential to be one of the best ever to play the position for the Red Sox – or at least since the heyday of Dustin Pedroia, who won American League MVP honors in 2008. Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr also played the position for Boston before retiring in 1951.

Another Boston stalwart at second was Jerry Remy, who became a popular Red Sox broadcaster after he retired. The current Red Sox wear a uniform patch honoring Remy, who died of cancer during the winter.

Despite his unimpressive start, Story wears a solid number with the Sox. After wearing No. 27 in Colorado, he was handed No. 10 – a uniform worn previously by such stalwarts as Lefty Grove and Andre Dawson, both Hall of Famers, as well as Gene Stephens and Rich Gedman.

Even with Story in the fold, the Red Sox infield faces an uncertain future. Bogaerts can become a free agent after this season by exercising an opt-out clause in his contract and star third baseman Rafael Devers can leave after next season. Both players reportedly rejected Red Sox contract extensions earlier this month.