Red Sox Reportedly Made Pursuit For Superstar Shortstop Before Trevor Story Deal

Boston avoided a massive mistake

Scott Neville | Aug 21, 2023

Red Sox Reportedly Made Pursuit For Superstar Shortstop Before Trevor Story Deal /

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Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox have had a tumultuous couple of seasons since signing Trevor Story to a six-year $140 million contract (with an option) prior to the 2022 season.

The two-time All-Star has battled injuries and has not quite hit for as much contact as anticipated after the Red Sox plucked him from a loaded group of free-agent middle infielders. While there have been snags since Boston went all in for Story, it sounds as if the alternative option would have been far worse.

"(Javier) Báez did well to get that $140 million deal, as once the (New York) Mets signed Eduardo Escobar and others, the (Detroit) Tigers were left as the other main option -- the Red Sox were the only other possibility but not at that level," the New York Post's Jon Heyman wrote Thursday.

Báez's stint with the Tigers has been a nightmare thus far and the Red Sox were wise not to pull the trigger despite his impressive career. Heyman seems to think the decision for Báez came down to Boston or Detroit -- with the latter offering a bigger deal.

The 30-year-old has hit .231 with 72 extra-base hits including 25 home runs, 118 RBIs and a .637 OPS (78 OPS+) since signing with the Tigers prior to the 2022 season. Báez has struck out nearly once-per game -- 250 times in 256 games.

Story has had quite the bumpy ride since joining the Red Sox but his 96 OPS+ is at least respectable and there is now optimism that he can reach another level with his surgically repaired elbow and consistent playing time after mounting injuries kept him off the field for the beginning of his career in Boston.

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Published Aug 21, 2023

SCOTT NEVILLE

Scott Neville covers the Boston Red Sox for Sports Illustrated's new page "Inside The Red Sox." Before starting "Inside The Red Sox", Neville attended Merrimack College, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media with a minor in Marketing. Neville spent all four years with Merrimack's radio station WMCK, where he grew as a radio/podcast host and producer. His propensity for being in front of a microphone eventually expanded to film, where he produced multiple short films alongside his then-roommate and current co-worker Stephen Mottram. On a journey that began as a way to receive easy credits via film classes, he received a call from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" star Charlie Day. Day advised him to make a feature-length film, which he completed his senior year. While writing the film, Neville completed an internship for United Way as part of their NFL Partnership Program. Neville ran the blog for a team of interns and hosted an internet show called "United Way's NFL Partnership Series" where he interviewed NFL alumni. After college Neville wrote for SB Nation's "Over The Monster," a Red Sox sister site of the flagship brand. His work would eventually lead him to a job as a content producer with NESN, where he would cover all sports. After developing as a writer with the top regional network in the world, he was given the opportunity to join the Sports Illustrated Media Group in his current endeavor as the publisher of "Inside The Red Sox." The successful launch and quick rise of "Inside The Red Sox" led to Neville joining the Baseball Essential ownership group, a national baseball site under SIMG. Follow him on Twitter: @ScottNeville46 Email: nevilles@merrimack.edu