Endless slump puts $140M Red Sox slugger’s future in question

This season, the Boston Pink Sox-Trevor Story saga lastly gave the impression to be reaching a much-awaited climax. On the peak of his 2025 marketing campaign on April 21, the Pink Sox shortstop was hitting .337 and had 5 dwelling runs.

Nonetheless, lower than a month later, Story’s statline has aged poorly. The 32-year-old two-time All Star is now slashing .234/.277/.353 with six dwelling runs on the 12 months and is cementing the speculation that his $140 million contract is nothing in need of a catastrophe.

Throughout his six seasons with the Rockies, Story posted a .272 batting common and racked up 158 dwelling runs in 2,822 at-bats. However since becoming a member of the Pink Sox in 2022, Story has battled relentless accidents, severely limiting his time on the diamond whereas his numbers frequently suffered. In his profession with the Pink Sox, Story is hitting .232 with 27 dwelling runs in 776 at-bats. When contemplating all elements, it looks like buying and selling Story is out of the query. Nonetheless, together with his continued struggles plaguing his numbers, it seems to solely be a matter of time earlier than his place is usurped.

In Triple-A, budding shortstop Marcelo Mayer — Boston’s No. 2 prospect (No. 8 prospect overall, according to MLB Pipeline) — has excelled, hitting .282 with eight dwelling runs. Mayer has been a prized gem within the Pink Sox farm system since they drafted him in 2021. Along with his arrival imminent, the infield is due for a shuffle. What does this imply for Story?

With the season-ending damage to first baseman Triston Casas leaving an enormous opening, Boston has been scrambling to discover a appropriate alternative. The job had initially been provided to Rafael Devers, nevertheless it was rapidly turned down. With Mayer able to enter a packed infield, it might seem logical if Story was subsequent in line for the open first base place. Nonetheless, this may even rely on the promotion of Roman Anthony and the return of Masataka Yoshida, which can shuffle the roster in an unpredictable method. Whatever the shift, one would suppose the Pink Sox will at the least strive Story at first someday this season.

However past 2025, Story’s future is a bit more unsure. Story’s contract comes with an opt-out clause after the season is over. If he chooses to stick with the Pink Sox, he’s set to earn $50 million over the subsequent two years, a elevate of $5 million yearly, after which lies a membership possibility, one the Pink Sox doubtless gained’t hesitate to say no.

Ought to Story choose in, he’ll doubtless be relegated to a bench position if he can’t at the least partially vindicate his hefty contract this season. If he have been to choose out, his profession would enter a degree past hypothesis. For now, he must take advantage of his time because the Pink Sox shortstop and capitalize on the potential alternative to be their first baseman ought to it come up.