Boston Red Sox
“I believe it’s only a matter of time earlier than I get it proper.”
Few issues have gone based on plan thus far for the 2026 Crimson Sox.
And whereas a number of elements have performed a task in Boston’s lackluster 17-23 begin to a brand new season, veteran shortstop Trevor Story has stood on the forefront of a Crimson Sox roster failing to punch above its weight by way of the primary quarter of a brand new season.
Coming into the 2026 marketing campaign, Story was anticipated to be one of many few established stalwarts in a clubhouse poised to take one other main step ahead after final yr’s temporary playoff look.
Regardless of a sluggish begin in 2025, Story was arguably Boston’s most constant bat down the stretch — batting .263 with 25 house runs and 96 RBI.
However no matter momentum the 33-year-old infielder seemingly seized final yr has fallen to the wayside this spring.
As soon as once more, Story has been mired in an prolonged rut on the plate in 2026. By 38 video games, Story is batting simply .200 with two house runs and 18 RBI. He has struck out 55 occasions in 155 at-bats whereas additionally working simply seven walks — equating to a ghastly .520 OPS.
To make issues worse, the cracks in his defensive sport that manifested down the stretch final season have carried over to this yr — with Story knocked for 5 errors, together with a pricey miscue that led to 2 Rays runs in Sunday’s 4-1 loss at Fenway.
“If I knew precisely what it was, you might sort of repair it immediately. However that’s not baseball, and there’s rather a lot that goes into it,” Story told Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe on Sunday. “I believe it’s only a matter of time earlier than I get it proper. We noticed what can occur final yr, so I’m assured I can do it once more.”
Very like final season, the Crimson Sox may merely decide to attend issues out to see if Story can snap out of his prolonged malaise.
After struggling by way of the primary two months of the 2025 season, Story lastly snapped out of it as soon as the calendar flipped to June.
Over his closing 96 video games in 2025, Story batted .294 whereas posting 18 house runs, 70 RBI, 22 stolen bases, and an .839 OPS.
However can Boston afford to attend issues out as soon as once more for Story, particularly as their already slim playoff hopes proceed to shrink in a largely uncompetitive American League so far?
Interim supervisor Chad Tracy and the Crimson Sox want to begin exploring their choices on get probably the most out of this present lineup — whereas additionally placing youthful gamers in the very best place to succeed transferring ahead.
Step one there could be to modify Story over to second base and insert Marcelo Mayer over to his pure place at shortstop — a transfer that permits the 23-year-old Mayer to settle into what needs to be his full-time function in Boston whereas additionally shoring up Boston’s infield protection transferring ahead.
How Boston finds a treatment for Story’s excessive chase fee and poor on-base numbers is an excellent larger problem. Not solely is Story certainly one of many straightforward outs littered all through Boston’s lineup, however his regression from final summer time can also be hammering a Crimson Sox batting order that desperately wants extra pop on the plate.
If Story continues to strike out in 33 % of his at-bats transferring ahead, extra drastic choices could be wanted.
The Crimson Sox finally made the proper name with transferring a whiff-happy bat like Story down from the No. 2 spot within the lineup. But when Story continues to be a straightforward matchup for opposing pitchers, he’s not providing a lot worth even down on the No. 5-7 spots within the order.
Slicing into Story’s reps by giving at-bats to Andruw Monasterio could possibly be a viable possibility. Even when Monasterio’s ceiling is decrease than Story’s, he may doubtlessly string collectively extra aggressive at-bats than what Story is submitting nowadays.
If Boston is on the lookout for an outright purging of lackluster property, Craig Breslow may attempt to offload Story as a part of a wage dump commerce — though the fee it would take to entice a crew to tackle Story and the remaining $50 million left on his present deal might not be palatable.
As evidenced by Boston’s struggles with discovering any takers for Masataka Yoshida through the years, truly transferring a burdensome contract off the books is simpler mentioned than carried out.
The Crimson Sox may additionally decide to simply designate Story for task — consuming that $50 million to be able to simply release the roster spot.
None of these choices is precisely attractive for a Crimson Sox crew that was banking on Story to at the very least replicate a few of his encouraging 2025 manufacturing. However as each Story and the 2026 Crimson Sox as an entire proceed to supply little resistance on the plate, an more and more determined ballclub is working out of choices.
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