For the Boston Red Sox, every picture tells a story, and in this instance, it is Trevor Story, who currently resides in his home away from home, the injured list.
Cartoonist Al Capp created a character called Joe Btsfplk, over whom a dark cloud looms. Joe was the personification of bad tidings, and Story must have his own dark cloud.
The shortstop has the stench of dead money lingering around him and his six-year deal. Story has played 145 games through two and a half slates. That almost full season has produced 19 home runs, 84 RBI, and a .227 batting average. But is Story another Pablo Sandoval or Carl Crawford?
Story is not lazy, poorly motivated, or declining in skill, but is an amazing magnet for bad luck. In his 2022 inaugural season in Boston, Story relinquished his usual position at shortstop so that Xander Bogaerts could finish his Boston career and get a big contract kiss from San Diego.
In 2022, Story played 92 games at second base, and the metrics somewhat surprised, and not in a good way — six defensive runs saved and 1.6 UZR/150. At shortstop, the numbers slide comfortably into the positive range, not quite Gold Glove territory, but solid. Now comes the future.
The Red Sox organization is packed with middle infield talent. Can Trevor Story stick?
Trevor Story holds back tears as he talks about his latest injury setback pic.twitter.com/MfA3CRZXqW
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) April 9, 2024
Is the future Ceddanne Rafaela? Rafaela is still a tad tenuous with defensive metrics at both short and center, but the eyeball test shows highlight reel material. The Red Sox have inked the 23-year-old to an eight-year deal, so the management confidence meter is heading north.
Marcelo Mayer is a do-it-all at short and is currently stomping through Double-A with sights firmly set on Boston. Sox Prospects has Mayer packed for delivery in 2025, but you never know with prospects.
David Hamilton does not stand out defensively at either shortstop or second base, but the lefty hitter does have one unique skill — he's a burner on the base paths. Hamilton, Jarren Duran, and Rafaela cause nightmares on the base paths — ask the Yankees about that one.
Then there is Vaughn Grissom, who was expected to nail down second base, supply a steady right-hand bat, and play respectable defense. Grissom is the proverbial 800-pound gorilla, but he will remain an outlier until he proves he can stick it out on the field.
The easy way out is Story back at second base, Mayer at shortstop, and Rafaela in center field. Hamilton could be the odd man out. This is an excellent problem, such as having too much money. Story brings solid defense and a potent right-hand bat to a lefty-hitting-centric lineup and a huge contract that Boston will not be willing to dump.
Boston's wealth of talent allows roster flexibility and the ever-present use of emerging talent as trade chips for much-needed pitching. In that context, Story is going to be stationary in Boston, but the others may not be.