The Boston Red Sox have been searching for stability at the shortstop position for quite some time. You can trace it all back to December 2022, when mainstay Xander Bogaerts departed for the sunny climate of San Diego. With that, the surprising signing of Trevor Story a few months earlier became a lot more important. Story was looking for a fresh start after toiling away in Colorado. Unfortunately, Story’s tenure in Boston has been volatile, but he represents the Red Sox’s best hope at the six in 2026.  

Story’s health was a major concern from the moment he signed a six-year, $140MM contract. There were issues with his throwing arm in Colorado, and he has only appeared in 320 out of a possible 648 games to this point. Luckily, 2025 finally represented the best version of Story. The Red Sox are optimistic that he and other options can help alleviate this troublesome spot on the diamond. 

Red Sox Shortstops At A Glance:

Starter: Trevor Story
Backup: Isiah Kiner-Falefa 
Depth: Andruw Monasterio, Marcelo Mayer 
Prospects: Franklin Arias, Dorian Soto

The Good:

Trevor Story is a tough-minded individual. He arrived in Boston and immediately became a target of Red Sox fans. It’s easy to understand why when considering the amount of money he’s making and his lack of production. Still, the 32-year-old played 157 games and slashed .263/.308/.433 with 25 home runs, 31 steals, and 96 RBIs last season. That production was equivalent to 3.0 fWAR. 

His defense slipped (-9 Outs Above Average), but that course should be reversible. He may never match his defensive production in Colorado, but he’s been above average since arriving in Boston. Plus, depth options like Kiner-Falefa, Monasterio, and even Mayer are all adept with their gloves, which should give Alex Cora plenty of options to mix and match at shortstop late in games even if Story can’t right the ship.

The Bad:

The injury bug has bitten Story hard.  

He’s obviously missed a ton of games in recent seasons, but those injuries have also hurt his production. Peak under the hood and his 2025 numbers don’t look so hot. Story has a below average bat speed and a sky-high 26.9% strikeout rate while only drawing walks at a 5.0% clip. His arm strength ranking sat in the 36th percentile of baseball as well.

Shortstop is a difficult position that requires steady defenders up the middle. Story’s throwing arm has always been a focus and needs to be on target. If health is an issue again, it’s no sure thing that any of Kiner-Falefa, Monasterio, or Mayer can hit well enough in the major leagues to start on an every day basis. The floor at the position is high enough, but there’s no guarantee the Red Sox will get much more than replacement-level production if Story goes down again (or slows down due to age).

The Bottom Line:

Story will make or break the shortstop position in Boston in 2026, though the team has wisely brought in valuable depth on the bench. Another 25-25 season may be asking for a lot from someone in their age-33 season, but another strong offensive season paired with better defense would go a long way toward helping this team reach their goals.