FORT MYERS, Fla. — In a major league clubhouse, a locker is a status symbol — location, size, neighbors all indicators of a player’s standing within the team.

So when Trevor Story arrived at Red Sox spring training this week and found his new cubby, it meant something. He possesses the prime corner spot that a year ago belonged to Rafael Devers.

To Story’s right is an empty locker, meant for overflow of his belongings, the end of the row. To his left, another empty slot, then newcomer Willson Contreras, the position player with the next most service time after Story.

“I gotta give Willson some of this locker space,” Story said. “Three is cool.”

Story’s arrangement spoke to his significance to the Red Sox in the room and on the field. Offseason turnover included Alex Bregman and Rob Refsnyder departing for the Cubs and Mariners, respectively, leaving Story as the lone remaining member of the group most often cited for leadership during the Sox’ playoff season in 2025.

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Naturally, inevitably, others will step up to help fill the gaps. Manager Alex Cora highlighted backup infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa as a candidate in a part-timer, Refsnyder-esque way (plus ace Garrett Crochet and closer Aroldis Chapman on the pitching side). Story mentioned Jarren Duran.

But Story has the respect, contract, and history to be at the top of the list of leaders. And coming off a season in which he was first on the club in home runs (25), RBIs (96), stolen bases (31), and games (157), he has the health and performance to undergird his standing.

Cora said Story came into his office “five minutes” after last season ended — with a playoff loss to the Yankees — to tell him “I’m going nowhere” and he would not exercise the opt-out clause in his contract.

“We have to figure out a way to make the leadership go around a little bit,” he said. “I’m always happy to be the one kind of leading that charge.

“I would say I’ve always felt comfortable [being a leader], but it means more and it matters more when you’re out there healthy playing and you can post with the guys. That’s the main thing. It’s tough to do it from the sidelines when you’re hurt or injured. So, I think it may just carry more and more weight now.”

Story is an infield anchor, too, an especially important role in the context of the uncertainty next to him.

During defensive drills at Fenway South on Friday, trade acquisition Caleb Durbin worked at third base, where he played well for the Brewers last year, and Marcelo Mayer did so at second. Both can play the other position.

Cora talked around whether they would remain in those spots but acknowledged that team decision-makers want to commit one way or another “sooner rather than later.” That echoed what Story expressed a few hours prior.

“Ideally you’d like to get a full spring camp in with the infield unit just to go over communication style and what guys like,” Story said. “And those conversations are going to be had in the front office and those guys are going to make that decision. But hopefully sooner rather than later, I think that’s better for everybody.”

Cora said: “Taking care of the shortstop, whoever is going to play [second] most, that’s huge … Third base comes easy for both of them. Second base, they still have to work. Something I told Marcelo: Try to spend as much time with [infield coach José Flores] as possible at turning the double plays, starting the double play, and all that. Because the third base part of it is very similar to shortstop.”

After completing a full season last year for the first time since 2021 — when he was still with the Rockies — Story was optimistic that continued health would help him unlock yet another level of performance.

He politely declined Cora’s suggestion that he take more days off in 2026, part of the reason the Red Sox signed Kiner-Falefa as a multi-position backup.

“I understand the question and understand kind of the load management style of it,” Story said. “I still feel as strong as I have at any time in my career. So I think it was really about getting back to baseline … getting the 155-plus games has been my goal every single season, and being able to do that means a lot to me.

“That’s why I push so hard in the offseason. That’s why I continue to push hard in spring training. And I think it’s a standard to be set for the young guys, too. You don’t really take days off.”

Tim Healey can be reached at timothy.healey@globe.com. Follow him @timbhealey.