Boston Red Sox "Cautiously Quite Optimistic" Trevor Story Opts In

[Matthew Lenz]

The Boston Red Sox have a handful of player or mutual options that will significantly impact their offseason plans. Most notably, Alex Bregman is expected to opt out of his player option but has said he's interested in returning to the club. Another big name, Jarren Duran, has a unique team option despite still being arbitration-eligible, and it's unclear what direction the team may take with the former top prospect. Additionally, Lucas Giolito and Liam Hendriks have mutual options, both of which are expected to be declined by the team. Then we finally get to Trevor Story.

Chris Cotillo of MassLive is reporting that "Boston decision makers are — cautiously — quite optimistic that Story will opt in and play out the remaining two years and $55 million on his deal." One thing that may be impacting Story is that the club can void his opt-out by adding an extra year and $20 million to the current deal, which would make him a free agent following the 2028 season at 34 years old.

Story enjoyed a bounce-back in 2025, finishing the regular season with 25 home runs, 96 RBIs, and a career-high 31 stolen bases. He became the first Red Sox player to record a 20-home run, 20-stolen base season since Nomar Garciaparra in 1997. Despite the impressive numbers, his wRC+ of 101 indicates he was merely an average producer at the plate.

Of the players they control, which options should be accepted? Would you like to see Story come back? Let us know in the comments!

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[JoeBrady]

I'm not sue why the RS would be cautiously optimistic.  We're probably slightly better off if he leaves.  He had a fine year, but it was his first one in a while.  I wouldn't bet on him being as healthy or productive going forward.

[mvp 78]

30 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

I'm not sue why the RS would be cautiously optimistic.  We're probably slightly better off if he leaves.  He had a fine year, but it was his first one in a while.  I wouldn't bet on him being as healthy or productive going forward.

Imagine this headline being written 12 months ago. Everyone would have been very confused. 

[moonslav59]

We are only "better off if he leaves," if JH allows the money be added to the winter budget and Brez spends it wisely.

Those are two big ifs, with the JH one being the more significant one.

[moonslav59]

31 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Imagine this headline being written 12 months ago. Everyone would have been very confused. 

We'd have called it click bait.

[mvp 78]

7 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

We are only "better off if he leaves," if JH allows the money be added to the winter budget and Brez spends it wisely.

Those are two big ifs, with the JH one being the more significant one.

1B Okamoto

2B Rojas

SS Mayer

3B Bregman

Use savings to sign Cease to short term deal? 

[notin]

5 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

1B Okamoto

2B Rojas

SS Mayer

3B Bregman

Use savings to sign Cease to short term deal? 

1b: Harper

2b: Rengifo

SS: Mayer

3b: Bohm

Im combining threads.

[Randy Red Sox]

27 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

We are only "better off if he leaves," if JH allows the money be added to the winter budget and Brez spends it wisely.

Those are two big ifs, with the JH one being the more significant one.

this team has the potential to be a true contender if only the tightwad John Henry would open his wallet. Lord knows he's saved enough by cutting back the past several seasons. For the Sox to truly contend they need/must sign Pete Alonso, add a TRUE #2 SP., another quality reliever, and solve the ever on-going 2B issue. If Bregman and or Story leave the Sox will need to replace that RH bat as well. Only then can the Sox truly contend for a WS.

[moonslav59]

25 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

1B Okamoto

2B Rojas

SS Mayer

3B Bregman

Use savings to sign Cease to short term deal? 

Miguel Rojas?

Isn't he retiring?

[mvp 78]

14 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Miguel Rojas?

Isn't he retiring?

He said he's retiring after 2026. 

[Randy Red Sox]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

He said he's retiring after 2026. 

perfect for Joh Henry.  he loves those 1 year deals.

[moonslav59]

That's for certain!

[drewski6]

4 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

He said he's retiring after 2026. 

Hes better than Romy?

[notin]

If Story opts out, too, it means Mayer is the longest tenured infielder…

[moonslav59]

12 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Hes better than Romy?

I feel like I'm higher on Romy than most, but I'm not even sure I feel comfy with him in a platoon role at 2B or 1B, next year, let alone FT. I do think he has a significant chance at doing "well enough," but we need to greatly improve at minimum 2 of these 3 positions: 1B, 2B, 3B, and I think the plan is Mayer takes care of 2B or 3B, so that leaves Romy out in the cold or as a platoon DH with Masa.

I guess the actual plan should be to significantly improve at 3 of 4 everyday positions: 1B, 2B, 3B and DH plus a SP2, but we know hoping for just 2 position players and a pitcher is asking for too much.

Hey, you know how "Hank" is the nickname for Henry? We should call John Henry "Mr. Hanky." They guy is a big turd, afterall.

[notin]

5 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Miguel Rojas?

Isn't he retiring?

If Miguel retires, find yourself another Rojas.  There’s like 4 Rojas’s in MLB and they all play 2b (except for Johan)…

[moonslav59]

4 minutes ago, notin said:

If Story opts out, too, it means Mayer is the longest tenured infielder…

You know what still blows my mind?

All but 3 players on the 40 man roster were added to it after the start of the 2021 season. (Houck Sept '20) Wong (Nov '20) and Whitlock (Dec '20)

Nobody on the 40 was on the 40 to start 2020. What a massive turnover for a team that continually and emphatically denied they were ever in a rebuild mode. It may have been drawn out, but it was a complete overhaul and teardown reconstruction.

The 10th most senior 40 man roster player is Zack Kelly- added late AUG '22. #20 is Slaten, who was added DEC '23!

[Hitch]

On 10/31/2025 at 2:37 PM, moonslav59 said:

We are only "better off if he leaves," if JH allows the money be added to the winter budget and Brez spends it wisely.

Those are two big ifs, with the JH one being the more significant one.

He would spend the money, whether it is used to the best possible advantage is another thing, however. A big part of me still wants Story to opt out (I don't believe he will), just to get away from the contract as I don't believe this year's form (and health) will continue, but it would require A LOT of work, leaving us with only (an often hurt) Mayer in the infield and Romy who should be platooning and not playing full time.

Everyone else has huge question marks. And there's not a lot on the free agency list to get exited about

 

[moonslav59]

8 hours ago, Hitch said:

He would spend the money, whether it is used to the best possible advantage is another thing, however. A big part of me still wants Story to opt out (I don't believe he will), just to get away from the contract as I don't believe this year's form (and health) will continue, but it would require A LOT of work, leaving us with only (an often hurt) Mayer in the infield and Romy who should be platooning and not playing full time.

Everyone else has huge question marks. And there's not a lot on the free agency list to get exited about

 

Yes, the way the money is spent is crucial, and our FA signing record under Brez has been significantly less than stellar, but I do agree the Story's 2026 outlook is as risky or more so than any random FA signing at near his salary cost (AAV.)

If he opts out, our infield would have 4 open slots with Mayer, Romy, maybe Lowe, Casas, DHam, Sogard and Eaton as the in-house possibilities. That scares the beJesus out of me, when you need to count on JH to fork over significant money to sign 3-4 solid infielders.

[Hitch]

17 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Yes, the way the money is spent is crucial, and our FA signing record under Brez has been significantly less than stellar, but I do agree the Story's 2026 outlook is as risky or more so than any random FA signing at near his salary cost (AAV.)

If he opts out, our infield would have 4 open slots with Mayer, Romy, maybe Lowe, Casas, DHam, Sogard and Eaton as the in-house possibilities. That scares the beJesus out of me, when you need to count on JH to fork over significant money to sign 3-4 solid infielders.

Same. Retooling our infield would take SERIOUS work, some of which would need to be trades with 29 teams that see how desperate we are. 

[mvp 78]

On 10/31/2025 at 4:09 PM, drewski6 said:

Hes better than Romy?

Romy's problem is that he can't backup SS and the Sox have two injury prone-ish SS's. 

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Romy's problem is that he can't backup SS and the Sox have two injury prone-ish SS's. 

Do you feel comfortable with Romy at 3B?

Cora only played him at 3B in 2 games (12 innings) and we really needed help there. Of course, we needed him at 2B and 1B, too, so maybe that's why he did not play much 3B.

I can see Romy being counted on to fill or be part of the mix at...

2B platoon with Mayer or DHam

1B platoon with Lowe (Casas would not need a platoon.)

DH platoon with Yoshida

Possibly as a 3B platoon with Mayer, if we add a 2Bman, somehow.

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

Do you feel comfortable with Romy at 3B?

Cora only played him at 3B in 2 games (12 innings) and we really needed help there. Of course, we needed him at 2B and 1B, too, so maybe that's why he did not play much 3B.

I can see Romy being counted on to fill or be part of the mix at...

2B platoon with Mayer or DHam

1B platoon with Lowe (Casas would not need a platoon.)

DH platoon with Yoshida

Possibly as a 3B platoon with Mayer, if we add a 2Bman, somehow.

It's definitely not my ideal choice. He played there more often in '24. The only non-Bregman guy that I wouldn't have to hold my nose for would be Mayer. I'd much rather him at SS and Story at 2B though. Hard to say how the offseason shakes out right now.

 

[drewski6]

On 11/2/2025 at 3:50 AM, Hitch said:

He would spend the money, whether it is used to the best possible advantage is another thing, however. A big part of me still wants Story to opt out (I don't believe he will), just to get away from the contract as I don't believe this year's form (and health) will continue, but it would require A LOT of work, leaving us with only (an often hurt) Mayer in the infield and Romy who should be platooning and not playing full time.

Everyone else has huge question marks. And there's not a lot on the free agency list to get exited about

 

sounds like you may have talked yourself out of wanting story to opt out by the end there.

[drewski6]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Romy's problem is that he can't backup SS and the Sox have two injury prone-ish SS's. 

I still think theres a spot for him, especially if we have cotrol and options (not sure). Of course need a third ss capable player on the 40 man (at least)

My concern is Mayer plays 3b because he's 6'3 and has plenty of arm for it, and it just all feels stretched a little thin to me.

But Im not in love with some of these names being thrown around for infield depth.

[Hitch]

3 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

sounds like you may have talked yourself out of wanting story to opt out by the end there.

Oh I'm definitely on the 'please don't opt out' side of things. Which is mind-blowing compared to where I was in May.

[mvp 78]

16 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

I still think theres a spot for him, especially if we have cotrol and options (not sure). Of course need a third ss capable player on the 40 man (at least)

My concern is Mayer plays 3b because he's 6'3 and has plenty of arm for it, and it just all feels stretched a little thin to me.

But Im not in love with some of these names being thrown around for infield depth.

If they don't sign Bregman, the FA class isn't great! 

[moonslav59]

I'd be okay getting Bichette, but I'm not sure if he's better than Story at SS defense. I'd rather have Mayer at SS, too, but he can't seem to be able to play 150 games.

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I'd be okay getting Bichette, but I'm not sure if he's better than Story at SS defense. I'd rather have Mayer at SS, too, but he can't seem to be able to play 150 games.

There's always this year! 

[drewski6]

18 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

If they don't sign Bregman, the FA class isn't great! 

Which is why Im thinking Romy continues to be a part of this club in some capacity.