Trevor Story ready to lead Red Sox after opting to stay in Boston

The veteran shortstop plans to take his game to "another level" after a strong 2025 campaign.

Feb. 14, 2026 at 1:07am

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Trevor Story, the Boston Red Sox shortstop, has decided to stay with the team after having an opt-out clause in his contract. Story plans to lead the infield and take his play to "another level" this season after putting up his first healthy season in a Red Sox uniform last year, where he hit .263 with 25 homers and 31 stolen bases over 157 games.

Why it matters

Story's decision to stay in Boston is significant as the Red Sox lost key veteran leaders Alex Bregman and Rob Refsnyder in the offseason. Story's presence and leadership will be crucial for the team, especially with a new-look infield featuring young players like Caleb Durbin and Marcelo Mayer.

The details

Story struggled early last season but had a breakthrough in late May and hit .289 with an .827 OPS over his final 101 games. He pushed hard in the gym this winter to avoid late-season fatigue, which led to a dip in his defense last year. Story will be captaining the Red Sox's new-look infield, which includes Willson Contreras at first base and Durbin and Mayer at second and third base.

  • In October, Story told manager Alex Cora that he was "going nowhere" and had no intentions of opting out of his contract.
  • Over 157 games last season, Story hit .263 with a .741 OPS, 25 homers, 29 doubles and 31 stolen bases.

The players

Trevor Story

A 33-year-old veteran shortstop for the Boston Red Sox who has decided to stay with the team after having an opt-out clause in his contract.

Alex Cora

The manager of the Boston Red Sox.

Caleb Durbin

A young player who is expected to play a key role in the Red Sox's new-look infield.

Marcelo Mayer

A young player who is expected to play a key role in the Red Sox's new-look infield.

Willson Contreras

The new first baseman for the Boston Red Sox.

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What they’re saying

“I do know that there's another level in there. Just kind of getting back to baseline was big for me, which I think is what last year was for me. So I'm excited to push and get after it this year.”

— Trevor Story

“I'm excited about him. I saw him taking BP, he's night-and-day compared to last year. Last year, he was trying to find himself (early in the year). Today there was a lot of confidence in that batting practice.”

— Alex Cora, Manager, Boston Red Sox

What’s next

The Red Sox will continue to evaluate the infield positions throughout spring training to determine the best lineup for the start of the season.

The takeaway

Trevor Story's decision to stay in Boston and take on a greater leadership role is a significant boost for the Red Sox as they look to improve on defense and return to the playoffs. His veteran presence and high-level production will be crucial for a team that lost some key veteran leaders in the offseason.