Trevor Story hasn’t made a great first impression with the Red Sox
The Trevor Story experience hasn’t been the thrill that the Boston Red Sox anticipated when they signed him to a 6-year, $140 million deal. With the team stumbling out of the gate to land in the basement of the AL East, their prized free-agent acquisition has shouldered plenty of blame for the lineup’s underwhelming production.
Through 26 games, Story is batting .206/.281/.304, easily representing career-lows in each category. The perennial 20/20 threat only has one home run and one stolen base.
This is clearly not the production we expected from a player with Story’s track record. While many are quick to label him a bust, there is a reasonable explanation for his struggles.
Switching leagues and adjusting to a new city for the first time is a challenge for most players. The task is significantly more difficult with an abbreviated training camp. The lockout delayed the start of spring training, leaving everyone with fewer days to prepare. Since he didn’t sign with the Red Sox until after the lockout, plus he had to leave camp for the birth of his child, Story had less time to ramp up than most.
That might seem like a convenient excuse but the trend has followed other position players who joined a new team in free agency. The top six position players on MLB Trade Rumors’ list of free agents all switched teams over the offseason. Story was sixth among position players in these rankings. He’s certainly struggled to adjust with his new team, but he’s not the only one.