Pardon the pun, but Trevor sure is writing one heck of a chapter to his Story. And this one could end with some hardware.
But could it also spur a risky move for more money?
After three mostly disappointing, injury-filled seasons with the Boston Red Sox, shortstop Trevor Story has put it all together in 2025. Signed to a six-year, $140 million contract in 2022, Story played only 163 of a possible 486 through the first three seasons, but this year, in 149 games, the 32-year-old has posted a slash line of .267/.313/.442, with 24 home runs and 92 RBIs.
“He’s owed a lot of apologies from a lot of people, myself included,” said Gabby Maljanian of the Locked on Red Sox podcast. “There were definitely doubts about him going into the season regarding how well he was going to be able to perform, if he was going to sustain a level of success.”
Trevor Story Breaks AL Stolen Base Mark Amid Comeback Season
Story has even stamped his name into the record books this year. In the sixth inning of Wednesday night’s game against the Athletics, Story stole his 31st base of the season on his 31st attempt, setting a new American League record for most stolen bases in a season without getting caught.
Story would get caught on a failed attempt in the eighth inning to end the streak, but with 31 stolen bases and 24 home runs, Story leads the Red Sox in both categories. Should he remain at the top of the list in both categories when the season ends, Story would be just the sixth Boston player to do that in the last 50 seasons.
Story’s resurgence has him among the frontrunners for AL Comeback Player of the Year — and on the short list for Boston’s team MVP. In fact, there are some that suggest that Story may also be worthy of a few votes in this year’s AL MVP race.
The one wrinkle in all this is Story’s contract.
Trevor Story Could Opt Out of His Contract After Resurgent 2025
When he signed with Boston nearly four years ago, the agreement came with an opt-out after this season. And with an offensive season that puts him in the upper half of MLB shortstops, that clause suddenly feels relevant again. If Story walks, he’d be leaving behind two more years at $25 million apiece, betting that the market would pay him more at age 33.
It’s a fascinating debate. On one hand, Story has rebuilt his value in dramatic fashion, showing he can still impact games with power, speed, and leadership. On the other, teams don’t hand out massive deals to players entering their mid-30s with an injury history. His 2025 turnaround makes for a great story, but it doesn’t erase the three years before it.
That’s why most around the game believe he’d be wise to stay put. Few clubs are lining up to guarantee more than what Boston already owes him, and the Red Sox are in a spot where they need his stability in the infield. In this case, the safest bet is also the smartest one: keep the $50 million guaranteed, keep rewriting his Boston chapter, and leave the gamble to someone else.
Resurgent Red Sox Record-Setter Faces Risky Decision