Red Sox $140 Million Contract Named Worst in Baseball

For one reason or another, every team in Major League Baseball has at least one contract they probably regret. Large contracts in MLB typically age poorly because of decreased performance and injuries. For the Boston Red Sox, the one contract they probably regret is shortstop Trevor Story.

Bleacher Report’s Timy Kelly identified Story’s six-year, $140 million contract as the organization’s worst contract heading into the 2025 season. The Red Sox owe Story $72.5 million between 2025 and 2027. Story, 32, was one of MLB’s best shortstops during his six seasons with the Colorado Rockies.

Trevor Story's $140 Million Deal with Boston Red Sox Called One of Worst in Baseball

He hit 24 or more home runs every season in Colorado, excluding the 2020 season, which was shortened to 60 games because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Story made All-Star appearances in 2018 and 2019 and finished his time with the Rockies with a 112 OPS+.

Boston signed Story in March 2022, and he’s played in just 163 of the club’s 486 regular season games since the start of that year. Numerous injuries have derailed his career trajectory. Hand and heel contusions limited Story to 94 games in 2022. In 2023, elbow surgery limited him to 43 games, and shoulder surgery in 2024 kept him off the field for all but 26 games. The Red Sox were not expecting Story to return last year, but he was activated off the 60-day IL on September 7.

When Story takes the field, he looks like a shell of his former self, especially at the plate. In his three seasons in Boston, Story’s OPS is .693, 170 points lower than the .863 OPS he posted in Colorado. Understandably, getting back into the swing of things with limited availability and playing time has to be complicated. Still, manager Alex Cora and the front office must wonder if the shortstop will ever return to his All-Star form. Story’s contract includes a player opt-out clause after 2025. In all likelihood, the veteran will opt in, no matter how he performs this season. Story would receive nowhere near his current yearly salary in the free agent market.

Trevor Story, ready to settle in at second, brings big expectations and power to the Red Sox - The Boston Globe

Red Sox Give Disappointing Update on 3 Prospects for Opening Day

The Boston Red Sox have had plenty of storylines during Spring Training. But one of their biggest has been the bid of their top three prospects to make the Opening Day roster.

Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer are considered to be the future of the organization and rightfully carried plenty of hype into camp. All three are ranked in the top 12 of MLB Pipeline’s top 100 prospects list entering the 2025 season and it’s a matter of when – not if – these players make their major league debut this summer.

While Red Sox fans are excited to see each of them at the major league level, they were handed some bad news on Sunday when Alex Cora revealed some of the thought process behind their chances of making the trip to Texas on March 27.

Boston Red Sox will be without Trevor Story after undergoing elbow surgery | fox61.com

Alex Cora Suggests Red Sox Top Prospects Unlikely to Make Opening Day Roster

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Cora said that Anthony, Campbell and Mayer will not make the Opening Day roster for “ceremonial purposes.” He also stressed the need for each player to win a job out of Spring Training and stressed the team’s desirre to win over the trio’s development at the major league level.

“Playing time is important. The development of the player is important,” Cora said via MLB.com’s Ian Browne. “But I think winning games right now is more important.”

Cora’s comments are based on how camp has played out. Anthony is the No. 2 prospect according to MLB Pipeline and has had a solid spring, hitting .273/.429/.455 with a home run and eight RBI in 10 games (28 plate appearances). But he’s also stuck in a numbers game with fellow outfielders Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu penciled into the Opening Day lineup.

Boston Red Sox bringing back manager Alex Cora for 2023, 2024 seasons - Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News

Mayer is MLB Pipeline’s No. 12 prospect entering next season and finds himself in a similar position. The 22-year-old has raked at the plate, hitting .360/.429/.560 with a home run and seven RBI in 13 games (28 plate appearances) but Trevor Story and Alex Bregman are locked into starting spots on the left side of the infield to open the year.