Terry Francona is back (and better than ever)
You just never know until you know.
That was the lingering feeling regarding Trevor Story's future with the Red Sox. All signs were pointing to the shortstop opting into the final two years of his contract with the Sox, paying him $25 million a season. He had been hinting at that reality dating back to the middle of the 2025 campaign.
But from a pure business side of things, nobody would have blamed Story if he vaulted himself into the free agent market. Starting June 7, he boasted a .839 OPS the remainder of the season, leading the club over that span with 18 home runs.
And while outsiders will look at Story's numbers in 2025 as pedestrian - finishing with a .263 batting average and .741 OPS - the Red Sox came to realize the value of the shortstop over the final four months, both at the plate, in the field (where he did slump in the final month), and on the bases.
The bottom line is that the 33-year-old Story could make a strong case in free agency to do better than the two-year commitment he had with the Red Sox, particularly with the relatively weak middle infield class teams are staring at this offseason.
But Tuesday, all the conversation was put in the rearview mirror.
As was first reported by MassLive.com, Story is officially opting into the final two years of his five-year deal. It's now one big thing the Red Sox don't have to worry about.
While some will point to Story's injury history, lackluster first couple of months, and uncomfortable defensive rating (minus-9 outs above average), the player is still viewed as a key piece of the foundation for the Red Sox heading into 2026. There is, after all, enough uncertainty in the infield.
Third base is a question mark with Alex Bregman testing the free-agent waters. The assumption is that Marcelo Mayer will get first crack at second base, although he may also be needed if at the hot corner if Bregman leaves. And the club is desperately trying to decipher how they can find consistent production from first base, either in the free agent market (Pete Alonso?) or internally (Triston Casas?).
There is also the reliance on Story when it comes to roster construction. For a team that needs more home runs, he is more part of the solution than the problem, hitting the third-most homers of any shortstop in Major League Baseball.
Story wasn't the only player to choose familiarity when it came to contract decisions, with Shane Bieber making the most surprising offseason to date by opting into another year with the Blue Jays at $16 million for 2026. It was a notable development for the Red Sox, considering the team's longstanding interest in the starter.
In other Red Sox news, Jarren Duran agreed to a one-year contact with the team for $7.7 million after the team declined a $8 million option for 2026. It allows the outfielder to avoid arbitration.