MLB Notebook: Could Red Sox trade Trevor Story? Weak shortstop market creates intriguing possibilities

The Red Sox enter the offseason coming off back-to-back postseason eliminations at the hands of the Yankees in the American League Wild Card Series.

While Boston took another step forward by reaching October for the second consecutive season, let’s not forget just how atrocious this team was during the first two months of the year.

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, everything changed under then-interim manager Chad Tracy. 

The Red Sox caught fire, going 32-5 during a remarkable stretch that completely transformed the trajectory of their season. What once looked like a lost year suddenly turned into a legitimate postseason run, with Boston climbing back into contention and giving its fan base something to believe in.

That turnaround deserves recognition, but it shouldn’t erase the struggles that preceded it or the disappointing way the season ended. The Red Sox salvaged their season, but getting swept out of October by their biggest rival was another reminder that there’s still plenty of work to be done.

The Red Sox need more offense, even if they already have a projected starter at nearly every position around the diamond.

You could argue that second base remains a question mark, but with Franklin Arias knocking on the door of the big leagues, Boston could eventually slide him over to second while Trevor Story remains at shortstop.

That brings us to Story, who could be one of the more interesting names to watch this winter.

Could Trevor Story Become an Offseason Trade Candidate?

The veteran shortstop turns 34 in November and is entering the final season of the six-year, $140 million contract he signed when Chaim Bloom was running Boston’s front office.

Story’s tenure with the Red Sox has been frustrating, to say the least. In five seasons, he’s managed to play one full year. Just one. His tenure in Boston is one that fans would love to forget. 

Story appeared in just 64 games this season, batting .235 with a .621 OPS. Since arriving in Boston, he’s played in only 384 games, hardly the return the Red Sox envisioned when they committed $140 million to him.

That lack of availability simply isn’t going to cut it for a team that needs stability at shortstop.

When healthy, Story remains capable of being an everyday shortstop. I’ll concede that much. But whether he should continue playing the position in Boston is another conversation.

There’s an argument to be made that Story would be better suited at second base, allowing Arias to take over at his natural position once the organization believes he’s ready for the bright lights of Fenway Park.

The Red Sox have a decision to make; do they bring Story back for the final year of his contract or explore the possibility of trading him.

With Arias approaching the majors and Curtis Mead, Caleb Durbin, Nick Sogard and Andruw Monasterio already providing infield options, Boston has some flexibility.

Story is owed $25 million next season, which certainly complicates a potential trade. However, given the lack of appealing shortstop options in free agency, he might have more value on the market than Red Sox fans realize.

In fact, if Story were a free agent this winter, there’s a reasonable argument that he’d do fairly well for himself despite his inability to stay healthy.

A Weak Free-Agent Market Could Help Boston

Mauricio Dubón, J.P. Crawford, Paul DeJong, Zack Short, Kevin Newman, Orlando Arcia, Jorge Mateo and Ha-Seong Kim are among the available options.

Does anyone on that list inspire a front office to hand out significant money for an everyday shortstop?

I’ll answer that for everyone: no, no it does not. Teams searching for a legitimate upgrade at the position might have better luck exploring the trade market, and that’s where Boston could potentially benefit.

Dubón is arguably the most appealing name of the group. The 32-year-old spent last season with the Braves, batting .276/.321/.399 with 12 home runs and 73 RBI. He was also one of four Atlanta players named a National League Gold Glove finalist. If he wins, it would be the third Gold Glove of his career.

Combine his defensive reputation with his clubhouse leadership and positional versatility, and Dubón could be in line for a nice payday. Once he comes off the board, teams that miss out on him could be forced to reconsider their options. That’s where the Red Sox might find an opportunity to gauge interest in Story.

Crawford, meanwhile, doesn’t do much for me.

The longtime Mariners shortstop hit 14 home runs this season, the second-highest total of his 10-year career, but his overall profile raises plenty of concerns.

He battled wrist and shoulder issues and struggled mightily defensively, finishing with minus-12 Defensive Runs Saved at shortstop. Only Trea Turner, at minus-17, finished worse.

Crawford will enter next season at 32, two years younger than Story, but his defensive metrics suggest a move away from shortstop might be necessary. Seattle experimented with Crawford at third base earlier this season, but his below-average arm strength created additional challenges.

He is also the Mariners’ longest-tenured player, a distinction that could end this offseason.

If Red Sox fans worry Crawford could become a target for Boston, I’ll offer this… I’d rather see the club bring back Isiah Kiner-Falefa. I can also confidently say that Crawford is not an offseason target for Boston.

At least Kiner-Falefa provides a dependable glove and the versatility to move around the diamond.

Crawford’s declining defensive performance makes him a difficult sell as an everyday shortstop, particularly for a club trying to improve its overall roster.

And that’s precisely why Story could be more attractive on the trade market than many expect.

The Red Sox wouldn’t necessarily be shopping an elite shortstop, nor would they be moving a player without significant financial and durability concerns. But they’d be offering a veteran with a track record of offensive production and the ability to handle the position when healthy.

With so few attractive alternatives available, Boston would be wise to at least explore the market.

Could Corey Seager Become a Trade Option?

Another shortstop could generate interest on the trade market this winter, and it’s a name the Red Sox have explored before: veteran Corey Seager.

The Rangers shortstop, who will turn 33 next April, is a two-time World Series MVP with 10 major league seasons, including five in Texas. He’s entering the sixth season of the 10-year, $325 million contract he signed with the Rangers and is owed $31 million in 2027.

Seager has also earned full no-trade protection, giving him the ability to block a potential deal to any team.

The Rangers could face some difficult financial decisions this offseason. With several significant contracts already on the books, Texas has approximately $15 million in financial flexibility, according to Rangers beat writer Evan Grant, leaving the organization with limited room to address other roster needs.

Moving Seager could create some breathing room, but finding a trade partner willing to take on his remaining contract would be challenging.

Teams should proceed with caution when considering Seager. His health is another concern, similar to Story. 

Seager has dealt with recurring back problems, and following the season, it was revealed that he needed surgery to remove a bone spur from his elbow.

His offensive production has also declined while his time on the injured list has increased. Seager’s OPS has fallen from a peak of 1.013 to .864, .860 and most recently .736. Over the past three seasons, he’s posted a combined .824 OPS, still ranking among the top 10% of hitters with at least 1,000 plate appearances during that stretch.

Seager has missed 159 games over the past three seasons, essentially the equivalent of an entire regular season. His 1,414 plate appearances during that span rank 129th in baseball, illustrating how injuries have limited his overall impact.

The Rangers could maintain the status quo and hope Seager remains healthier moving forward. They could push for changes to his preparation, conditioning or defensive position in an effort to keep him on the field. Or they could explore trading him and reallocating whatever financial savings they can generate.

None of those options come without complications, particularly given Seager’s no-trade protection and the amount of money remaining on his contract.

Boston has expressed interest in Seager before. After the club’s unsuccessful negotiations with Alex Bregman, who ultimately signed with the Cubs, the Red Sox contacted the Rangers about the veteran shortstop.

Could Craig Breslow revisit those conversations this winter?

It’s certainly worth monitoring, especially if Texas becomes more motivated to move some of its larger contracts.

To be clear, I’m far from advocating that the Red Sox should trade for Seager. His age, injury history and remaining financial commitment present significant risks, particularly for a Boston club already dealing with questions surrounding Story’s durability.

But the reality is that the Red Sox might not have the prospect capital necessary to pursue a younger, more impactful shortstop such as Elly De La Cruz or Zach Neto without surrendering Arias and additional valuable pieces from the farm system.

And after the substantial prospect package Boston surrendered to acquire Adley Rutschman at the trade deadline, another blockbuster involving multiple top prospects would be difficult to justify.

Seager would represent a different type of gamble by taking on an expensive veteran with legitimate offensive upside but considerable health concerns.

Whether the Rangers would entertain a deal, how much money they’d be willing to absorb and whether Seager would approve a move to Boston are all significant obstacles.

Still, with the free-agent shortstop market offering little excitement and the Red Sox looking for ways to improve their offense, it’s a situation worth keeping an eye on.

Why Moving Story Makes Sense for Boston

The Red Sox could explore trading Story this offseason, even if it means attaching a prospect and absorbing a portion of his $25 million salary for 2027.

I don’t think it makes much sense for Boston to carry both