Red Sox sign Story to reported 6-year, $140M deal
Trevor Story is a officially a member of the Boston Red Sox.
Trevor Story will wear No. 10. pic.twitter.com/ZNWH4GQUFs
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) March 23, 2022
The star shortstop agreed to a six-year, $140-million deal, a source told The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.
Story's deal includes a player opt-out after Year 4, which the Red Sox can negate by picking up the pact's seventh-year option, according to the New York Post's Joel Sherman. The contract reportedly becomes a $160-million agreement if Boston exercises the seventh-year option.
The deal does not contain no-trade provisions, Sherman adds.
The 29-year-old will shift from shortstop to second base, according to The Athletic's Jim Bowden. Xander Bogaerts currently plays shortstop for the Red Sox, but he can opt out of his contract after the 2022 season.
Xander Bogaerts just came in from hitting when he was told about Trevor Story. Said he will comment more when it’s official but he’s happy the Red Sox added another bat. “He’s a great player.”
— Jason Mastrodonato (@JMastrodonato) March 20, 2022
Story has never played any position but shortstop throughout his big-league career.
The two-time All-Star is coming off a down year at the plate that saw him hit .251/.329/.471 with 24 home runs, 34 doubles, and 75 RBIs for the Colorado Rockies.
Colorado was willing to pay Story more than $140 million on a new deal, but it's believed he thinks Boston provides a better opportunity to win, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman.
Several teams were connected to Story throughout the offseason, with the Houston Astros and San Francisco Giants among the finalists, reports Sherman.
Story maintained solid defense and ranked fourth in defensive runs saved among MLB shortstops in 2021, though his arm strength declined.
extremely quick and dirty b/c I don't have time for more but every Story throw 74+ over the last few years (w/o attempting to discern intent) and I will hear there's some "yikes" within this pic.twitter.com/3GkW9aTpzR
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) October 28, 2021
The Texan slashed .272/.340/.523 with 158 homers and 450 RBIs over six years with the Rockies after they drafted him in 2011. Though his numbers at hitter-friendly Coors Field were outstanding (95 HRs, .972 OPS), they were inferior on the road (63 HRs, .752 OPS) in a similar number of plate appearances.