With Freddie Freeman off the board and heading to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Boston Red Sox — one of the finalists for the 2020 NL MVP and 2021 World Series MVP — aren’t taking long to pivot their sights toward Trevor Story.
MLB insider Jon Heyman reports that Boston is “taking a look” at the free-agent veteran shortstop, who has spent each of his six pro seasons with the Colorado Rockies.
The 29-year-old has been as consistent as they’ve come, recording 24 or more home runs in each of his five full MLB seasons (not including the 2020 COVID-shortened campaign) including seasons of 37 and 35 round-trippers in 2018 and 2019.
But a change in scenery is imminent after he rejected the Rockies’ qualifying offer before the lockout and the team responded by handing out its second-richest contract in franchise history on Wednesday by signing third baseman Kris Bryant.
Boston’s interest is necessary as they look to keep up with the rest of a competitive American League East division that has seen the Toronto Blue Jays continue their push toward contention by trading for All-Star third baseman Matt Chapman from the Oakland Athletics.
The issue that lingers with their interest in Story is that the Red Sox already have a shortstop in three-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion Xander Bogaerts — and the long-time Rockies slugger reportedly has no interest in moving positions.
“I believe Story is still a shortstop and will remain so with his new team,” Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post wrote back in February. “That could change but from everything I’ve been told, Story doesn’t want to switch positions.”
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That’s where the other teams that Heyman reported — the St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, and Minnesota Twins — come into play.
The St. Louis Cardinals could reunite Story with Nolan Arenado and provide a significant upgrade to Paul DeJong, who batted .197 with 19 home runs last year — just two years removed from a 30-home-run 2019 season.
In Minnesota, Nick Gordon inspires little confidence at the position after posting a .647 OPS with four home runs and 23 RBI in 73 games in his rookie season last year.
The biggest team to watch, though, is the Astros. If they make a strong push for Story, it could be an indicator that Carlos Correa might not be returning to the organization, after all. While it was once a given that the two-time All-Star would be heading to a new home, the idea of a return to Houston has gained traction in recent days.
