Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam of MassLive.com discussed an assortment of Red Sox topics in the latest edition of their Fenway Rundown Podcastincluding a brief mention of Trevor story‘s status as a shortstop considers an opt-out clause in his contract. Cotillo believes that “the Red Sox are quite cautiously very optimistic that Story will remain with the team, and while there is a lot of gray area in that statement, it does offer an indication that Story is leaning toward opting out.
Story is owed $25 million in each of the next two seasons, plus a $5 million buyout on his $25 million club option for the 2028 campaign. The Red Sox could reverse Story’s opt-out by guaranteeing the club option now for 2028, but that doesn’t appear to be on the team’s radar, so the ball appears to be squarely in Story’s court. While Story’s .263/.308/.433 slash line and 25 home runs over 654 plate appearances only translate to a 101 wRC+, his numbers were hurt by a cold start to the season, as Story posted an .825 OPS over his final 429 PA.
Between this strong finish and a thin free agent shortstop market, there is reason for Story to leave his $55 million guaranteed on the table and look for a bigger contract this winter. On the other hand, Story turns 33 next month, his defensive credentials have been subpar, and the injury issues that plagued him in 2022-2024 will linger in the minds of front offices even if Story remained relatively healthy in 2025. If Story wants to avoid the risks of another extended stint in free agency, staying in Boston with a contending Red Sox team certainly seems like a viable choice.
More from the AL East…
- Earlier this month, Jon Heyman of the New York Post became the Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty as a logical candidate to be part of the Orioles‘management research. Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports that Flaherty did indeed interview with the O’s about the position before the club opted to hire Guardians associate manager Craig Albernaz. The Orioles might have considered some other names, but Flaherty is in on the action Albert PujolsLuis Rojas and Scott Servais as the candidates directly linked to Baltimore’s search, either in formal interviews or (in Servais’ case) simply through some interest on the club’s part. Flaherty’s six seasons as an Orioles player likely had some added appeal to Baltimore’s front office, but his highly regarded work as a bench coach in Chicago and San Diego has put him in the running for multiple managerial vacancies. Flaherty is reportedly one of the finalists for the Twins’ job, and he is a candidate for both the Padres and Braves in their ongoing searches.
- The Rays hold a few club options Brandon Lowe ($11.5MM) and Pete Fairbanks ($11 million) for the 2026 season, and both players have expressed a desire to remain in Tampa. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times examines the option decisions and notes that given the team’s offensive needs and how “the Rays typically view the bullpen as more changeable and volatile from year to year,” Lowe seems more likely than Fairbanks to make the 2026 roster. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean Fairbanks’ option will be declined, as the Rays would then lose the closer for nothing in free agency. Perhaps the most likely scenario is that Tampa Bay will pick up both options and then explore trade options for both players. In Fairbanks’ case, his $11 million salary might not seem that burdensome to some rival clubs in need of high-leverage bullpen help.
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