What does Trevor Story mean for the future of the Red Sox infield?
The Red Sox added a big bat to the order and a terrific defender when they signed free agent infielder Trevor Story to a six-year deal for $140 million over the weekend. As a natural shortstop, Story will likely play second base instead in 2022, while Xander Bogaerts will stay put.
The Story signing improves the Red Sox offensively entering 2022, but raises questions about the infield moving forward. Beginning with the most pressing, the Red Sox now have multiple premium options at shortstop.
Bogaerts remains one of the most productive offensive players at the position. Defensively, however, Bogaerts has struggled and is nearing a point in his career where his play with the glove could force him to switch positions.
Bogaerts’ lack of mobility and range affects his ability to stretch his capabilities as a defender. He most recently posted minus-5 defensive runs saved in 2021, according to Fangraphs.
Story comes to Boston with more defensive prowess at the position. He registered nine defensive runs saved in 2021, which was good for fourth-best among all shortstops.
Bogaerts enters this season with an opt-out of his contract. Bogaerts signed an extension in 2019 to relatively team-friendly terms of six years and $120 million. Since then, the 29-year-old expressed his intention to opt out of his current deal in favor of a new contract. If he stays, he could flip positions with Story. If not, he will depart from Boston to cash in and stay at shortstop elsewhere.
Elsewhere across the infield, positional battles are up for grabs in coming seasons at first base. Bobby Dalbec gets the starting job in 2022, but will need to create more contact to go along with his standout power potential. With Triston Casas slugging his way through the minor leagues, Boston will have decisions to make about how he will fit in as well.
These are good problems for the Red Sox, with positional battles fueling competition between talented ballplayers that will only enhance a bright future in this area of the roster.
The Story signing gives the Red Sox an immediate boost with both his bat and glove in 2022, while offering flexibility in the near future.
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New dates for Red Sox Spring Training, Opening Day, home opener
Free agency – Now
Feb 27, 2020; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox general manager Chaim Bloom takes questions from reporters during the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
Free agency is already underway, having officially begun at 7 p.m. Thursday night. You can find a list of potential Red Sox free agents here. In addition, teams can negotiate with their own players about contract extensions – which is something to watch for between the Red Sox and 25-year-old third baseman Rafael Devers.
Players report to Spring Training – March 13
Feb 22, 2021; Lee County, Florida, USA; A general view as players walk onto the field during Boston Red Sox spring training at Jet Blue Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
The latest players can report to Spring Training is this Sunday, Mar. 13. However, some players are already in Fort Myers and have begun working out.
Spring Training games begin – March 17-18
Feb 24, 2019; Fort Myers, FL, USA; A general view of the left field wall aka the green monster at JetBlue Park prior to the spring training game between the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
The exact schedule is still being worked out, but Spring Training camps will begin late next week. It’s unknown how much of the previous schedule will hold up, but the Red Sox are currently set to play the Toronto Blue Jays Mar. 18 at 1:05 p.m. at JetBlue Park.
Opening Day – April 7
Jun 4, 2021; Bronx, New York, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers (11) celebrates his three run home run against the New York Yankees with Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Ultimately, Opening Day ended up being pushed back a total of eight days, from Mar. 31 to Apr. 7. Now, the Red Sox open their season with a three-game series in the Bronx against the Yankees. The first game will be on Thursday, with Friday set as an off day incase of inclement weather. The series will resume Saturday and Sunday.
Home opener – April 15
Apr 5, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Four F-16’s from the 134th Fighter Squadron from Burlington, Vermont’s Air National Guard do a fly-over before the start of the of the Boston Red Sox home opener against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
After stops in New York and Detroit, the Red Sox finally return to Boston a week into the season. Patriots’ Day weekend begins with the Red Sox home opener against the Twins on Friday at 2 p.m. (the game was originally scheduled for 7:00). It’s the first of a four-game series, which wraps up the morning of Marathon Monday. The Red Sox will play a seven-game home stand against Minnesota and Toronto – their only home games in the month of April.
Make-up games
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 05: A view of a sunset behind the grandstand and Fenway Park sign during the second inning of the game between the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on September 05, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
At some point, the Red Sox will need to make up the games from the first weeks of the season – three against the Rays and three against the Orioles. All six games were scheduled to be played at Fenway Park.
Although those makeup dates haven’t been set, the league announced all games from the first week will be played as double-headers later in the season. The Orioles will be at Fenway May 27-30 and Sept. 27-29, with Tampa coming to Boston July 4-6 and Aug. 26-28.
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