Red Sox fans have been clamoring over rumors of Carlos Correa possibly coming to Boston, thanks to his rapport with manager Alex Cora and the team looking at SS options in free agency. However, I think getting lost in the mix is who the team can go for if Correa decides to sign elsewhere. I've heard Marcus Semien and Corey Seager also mentioned. But why does it seems like Sox fans are passing over Trevor Story?

The History

Story has pretty much been a top tier shortstop since making his debut for the Rockies in 2016. He started that season on fire, becoming the first player in MLB history to hit six home runs in his first four games. His 2016 season ended after 97 games due to a UCL tear in his thumb, but he still made an impact on the league and ranked fourth in Rookie of the Year voting at season's end. He struggled in his next season, leading the league in strikeouts with 191 and posting his lowest OPS+ of 84 (he had a 122 OPS+ in his rookie season).

Story was able to bounce back in 2018, however, becoming an All-Star and ranking 8th in MVP voting after hitting .291/.348/.567, resulting in a 127 OPS+ and a 6.2 WAR. He continued on this path in 2019 and 2020 with a 120 OPS+ in both seasons as well as a total of 27 Defensive Runs Saved in 201 games at short. To put it simply, he was a top tier defender as well as a threat on offense from 2018-2020.

The Situation

Story had a somewhat down year in 2021, though he still was above league average in both offense and defense, with a 103 OPS+ and 9 DRS. There's an argument to be made that he didn't put forth his best effort in order to preserve his body for his upcoming free agency, as teams knew what to expect from him and it was clear from the start of the season that the Rockies weren't going anywhere near the playoffs. That said, reports claim that Story was nursing an elbow injury throughout the season, which may have contributed to his lackluster play. Now, as the Rockies didn't end up trading him at the deadline, all they can gain is a draft selection after extending him the qualifying offer (which he likely won't accept). That is, unless they can convince him to stay, which is unlikely in my opinion.

What Does This Mean for the Red Sox?

The Red Sox will be facing steep competition for whoever they end up going for on the free agency market, but it possible Story has fallen a little off the radar after a subpar season. If Correa goes elsewhere, maybe it makes sense to look Trevor's way instead. After all, he should at least be a defensive upgrade over Xander Bogaerts, even if he plays more like his 2021 self instead of his 2018-2020 self. He's also going to be 29 in a few days, so he's older than Correa and Seager but younger than Simien. He should be in the long term plans wherever he ends up.

For the Sox, he fits the ideal mold: good enough now to provide an upgrade, young enough to stick with the core and keep their championship window open for a few years. But, pretty much all the top shortstops on the market fit that mold. Due to these factors, its possible the Sox may be able to slightly undersell Story as opposed to someone like Correa while still upgrading on both sides of the ball. The question is: will they pull the trigger if they don't get Correa? I definitely think they should.

Image Source: si.com

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