Trevor Story will not be exercising the opt-out clause in his contract with the Red Sox, MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo reports. Story had the ability to leave after the fourth year of his six-year, $120MM deal, but he’ll remain with the Sox and collect the remaining $55MM owed to him rather than test free agency this winter.
The remaining salary breaks down as a $25MM salary in each of the 2026 and 2027 seasons, plus there is a $5MM buyout of a $25MM club option on Story’s services for 2028. Story turns 33 in a couple of weeks and is coming off an okay but unspectacular 2025 campaign, so he has chosen to stick with the comfort and financial security of his current deal in Boston.
The fact that this decision was even somewhat debatable for Story is a testament to his bounce-back year. The first three seasons of Story’s contract were essentially a disaster, as injuries limited the shortstop to 163 games and he hit only .232/.296/.397 over 670 plate appearances. In 2025, however, Story was healthy and played in 157 games, batting .263/.308/.433 over 654 PA. Story launched 25 home runs and also set a new career high with 31 stolen bases (against just one caught-stealing).
It was something of a comeback year within a comeback year, as Story had to overcome an ice-cold start before heating up considerably after the first two months of play. The result was an almost exactly average 101 wRC+, and Story also had the lowest walk rate (five percent) of his career. Story’s glovework had remained a constant even throughout his injury-plagued days in Boston, yet this season his public defensive metrics plummeted to a -7 Defensive Runs Saved and -9 Outs Above Average.
These less-favorable numbers were surely on the mind of Story and his representatives at Wasserman as they considered the opt-out decision. Even with a lack of premium shortstop talent available in free agency, Story ultimately decided that testing the market wasn’t worth the risk. Story also might have flashed back to his last time on the open market, when the lockout interrupted the 2021-22 offseason and kept Story from landing his Red Sox contract until more than halfway through March.
With Story now officially back in the fold, the Sox have one big piece of their infield set for 2026. Alex Bregman did exercise his opt-out clause, so the third base position is a question mark for now unless Bregman re-signs or if the Red Sox install Marcelo Mayer at the hot corner. The second base starter is also unclear and there has been rumors that Boston wants a first base upgrade over Triston Casas (who is returning from a 2025 season almost entirely lost to injury).
Not a surprise.
He would have been stupid to opt out of it, no way he’ll get offered that kind of money on the open market again.
I’m glad and want him moved to second.
Not surprising. Not sure he can get 55m on the open market.
Not a surprise, but sure is disappointing. He could have really cashed in on this previous season when he was finally healthy!
$25 million in 2026
$25 million in 2027
$5 million if bought out in 2028
End of Story.
Well done 👏
Now move him to 2b
I wonder what happened the last time they moved story to second
He played well and got hurt, what’s your point? He can’t throw from SS anymore and we need a 2b.
Made the playoffs if I remember correctly
You remember incorrectly
Least surprising Story today in MLB
I think Luis Roberts, Jr. was as Getz had previously said he would pick up the option. The comment section there is a dumpster fire in a salt factory.
he’ll earn 55mil next 2 years with sox
probly the best choice, despite the great season he had
In other news, fish live in water, most people prefer not to get eaten by a bear, and the Universe is big..
You’d be surprised how many people would “hear me out…” on that second one
He wasn’t going to top either the AAV or total dollar amount in free agency. He had a really good season finally being healthy. Hopefully there is more where that came from
Good for him. Story is a guy who wants to play baseball in a place that values baseball. Of course he’s not settling for chump change here, but I think there’s a sense of obligation, considering all the playing time he missed over the last few years, while collecting his dough. I like his attitude and baseball IQ.
This is an okay, but unspectacular 25 campaign? Career high in plate appearances, good defender, 25 hr, 96 rbi, .263, 31 sb. Maybe not spectacular yes. But pretty darn good.
Good defender?
-7 DRS
-8 Defensive Run Value
-9 OAA
-7.6 SABR Defensive Index, the third worst of all American League shortstops
He was objectively among the very worst shortstops this season
Could be worse. He could have had Bo Bichette’s fielding numbers and some team is going to give him a monster contract this winter.
That’s because Bichette brings a great bat.
Bichette is hitting like Trevor Story did, but without Coors inflating his numbers.
September ruined his defensive metrics.
Just Rogers Center inflating the numbers.
He had been a good defender, this year he was not
I think players also have bad years defensively, just like down years on offense. Story will be a bit better defensively in 2026. If he was in his mid 30’s it would be a sign his defense might be declining. I think the absolutely best sign from Story is his playing in 157 games. Boston fans should be happiest about that. Good move on his part.
That OBP is atrocious. That hurts his value as a hitter quite a bit. He just doesn’t walk enough as a .260 BA guy.
The back end of free agent contracts is typically not great for teams. This is no exception.
There are two things that I would never agree to if I was a GM… player options and no trade clauses because they both allow the player to hold the franchise “hostage” in certain ways. I’d never give up that power, but the league is filled with GM’s who are sub bottoms who have been foolishly willing to bend to such demands.
By the same token teams hold players hostage with team options.
The GM who refuses player options and no-trade clauses loses top free agents to GMs who grant those clauses.
Interesting. He had a resurgent year so it could have gone either way, but probably not for those guarantees.
If he was a solid defender, he’s closer to Adames than he is his current contract, but he’s really not a SS anymore because of the wear and tear he’s had.
Thank god. Now let’s see if he and Mayer can both stay healthy and he moves to 2B.