Story, Red Sox agree to 6-year deal (source)

March 20th, 2022

MLB.com is keeping track of all the latest news and rumors surrounding shortstop

Read all about Story here.

March 20: Story, Red Sox agree to 6-year deal (source)
Story is joining the Boston Red Sox on a six-year, $140 million deal, MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reported Sunday. Story can opt out after the fourth year, but the team can negate that opt out by adding a seventh year to Story's contract, per Feinsand. That would increase the value of the deal to $160 million.

Story, 29, has played every game of his MLB career at shortstop, but with Xander Bogaerts manning that spot in Boston, Story will presumably move to second base. The metrics state Story is the defensively superior shortstop; his career totals in Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average are 69 and 18, respectively. Bogaerts' totals are -55 and -38.

A two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, Story racked up 24 home runs, 20 steals and an .801 OPS last season, his sixth with the Colorado Rockies. According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, the Rockies were willing to pay Story more than $140 million, but he chose Boston because he believes they have a better chance at winning.

March 19: Story to the ... Rangers? Texas is still in the mix (report)
The Rangers shook the baseball world by signing slugging middle infielders Corey Seager and Marcus Semien to megadeals early in the offseason. So they couldn't possibly be entertaining the idea of adding Story ... could they?

According to The Dallas Morning News, that's exactly what Texas is doing. The Rangers could view Story as a potential third baseman if he'd be willing to change positions on the infield. There have been conflicting reports as to whether he'd be amenable to that, but given that Globe Life Field is only 20 minutes away from his hometown of Irving, and that adding Story would give Texas an incredibly power trio on the infield, who knows?

March 19: Newest Giant already trying to recruit Story to SF?
Two days after signing with the Giants, Joc Pederson is already trying to recruit Story to San Francisco. Pederson posted a message to Story on Instagram, which read, "Come to the Bay ... Let's win a World Series," along with a photo of Story hitting.

The Giants are one of several teams still rumored to be in the mix for Story, though he'd need to move over the second base if he were to go to San Francisco, where Brandon Crawford is already the starting shortstop.

March 19: Who’s in on Story after Correa’s deal with Twins?
After Carlos Correa's stunning agreement with the Twins early Saturday morning, Story is the last man standing among the crop of star shortstops that reached free agency after the 2021 season, and it appears his market is growing.

Having missed out on Correa, the Astros are now in the mix for Story, according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, who reports that the Rangers, Red Sox, Giants and Yankees are also involved.

The 28-year-old prefers to remain at shortstop, but he'd have to make a position switch if he joins either Texas, Boston or San Francisco, which could give Houston and New York an advantage.

Per Heyman, Story is believed to be open to a short-term deal with opt-outs, like the one the Twins reached with Correa. Such a deal would presumably be attractive to a Yankees club that doesn't want to block top prospect Anthony Volpe's path to be the team's shortstop in the near future.

March 18: Giants, Red Sox among teams in mix for Story
MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reports that there are four teams in the mix to land Story, and the star shortstop is expected to pick one "soon." The Giants and the Red Sox are mentioned, but the two other teams remain a mystery. Heyman says Story is "prioritizing winning" and is considering a short-term positional move for his new team, if necessary.

That kind of move would seem to be necessary if the 29-year-old signs with Boston or San Francisco. Those teams have established, veteran shortstops -- Xander Bogaerts and Brandon Crawford, respectively -- but less certainty at second base.

Story hit 24 home runs and recorded an .801 OPS last season, which represented a step back from his 2016-19 production (31 homers per year, .878 OPS). However, his average exit velocity and barrel rate both ticked up past his 2020 levels. He was considered a below-average fielder according to Outs Above Average (-7). Conversely, he ranked fourth among all qualified shortstops with nine Defensive Runs Saved. Story has played all of his 733 career games at shortstop.

March 17: Red Sox reportedly considering Story
The Red Sox were involved in the Freddie Freeman sweepstakes, but after the first baseman agreed to a deal with the Dodgers, the free-agent options that can provide a substantial boost to Boston’s roster are dwindling. 

Story is among the free agents the team is considering in the wake of Freeman’s agreement with the Dodgers, reports MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, who mentions the Cardinals, Twins and Astros as other possible options for Story.

With Xander Bogaerts entrenched at shortstop, the Red Sox would need to convince Story to play second base, though it’s worth noting that Bogaerts can opt out of his contract after 2022, possibly clearing the shortstop position for Story.

March 14: Twins have 'checked in' on Story (report)
The Twins were busy on Sunday, swinging a blockbuster trade with the Yankees that sent veteran third baseman Josh Donaldson and recently acquired shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa to New York in exchange for catcher Gary Sánchez and infielder Gio Urshela. That came after Minnesota traded for right-hander Sonny Gray from the Reds earlier in the day.

The deal that sent Donaldson and Kiner-Falefa to the Yankees may signal that the Twins are looking to add more, particularly at shortstop, where the trade of Kiner-Falefa re-opens a vacancy at the position. With the Yankees reportedly assuming all of the remaining $50 million owed to Donaldson, the resulting financial flexibility may enable Minnesota to make a splash by inking Story, according to the Athletic's Dan Hayes (subscription required).

MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reports that the Twins have indeed "checked in" on Story. Per Heyman, Story has turned down deals worth more than $100 million because they would have required him to switch positions, but the Twins have a clear opening at shortstop.