NEWSLETTER
Although the Cubs and White Sox (and four other teams) snuck in a little live-game action yesterday, Cactus and Grapefruit League play kicks off in earnest today. So it’s not surprising to see a little more action around the league, like the Luke Voit trade and the increasing Nick Castellanos chatter. But we may soon have an even bigger deal to dissect, as one of the top free agent shortstops on the market is reportedly close to making his decision. No, not that one. We’re talking about Trevor Story.
Superstar SS Trevor Story choosing one of 4 teams soon. Giants, Red Sox and 2 others remain in mix. Prioritizing winning. Apparently considering a short-term positional move, if necessary.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 18, 2022
Story will reportedly make a decision soon, potentially picking between the Giants, Red Sox, and two mystery teams (Astros? Cubs? Twins? Someone else I’m forgetting?).
The Giants haven’t really been involved in many free agent middle infield discussions this winter — especially because Brandon Crawford just had a HUGE bounceback season in SF. But if Story is willing to play second base, as the report suggests, then it’s not like Wilmer Flores should keep the Giants from pursuing Story. The same goes for the Red Sox with Xander Bogaerts at shortstop, who could be a free agent at the end of 2022 (and who have also been connected to Correa this offseason).
Unfortunately, without knowing the identity of the other two teams in the mix, it’s difficult to take this any further.
That said, Story hasn’t really been seen as a likely alternative to Carlos Correa *for either the Cubs or the Astros*, despite their connection to Correa all winter. That’s not to say Story wouldn’t make sense for either team, but I do think the Cubs take the difference in age, expected defensive value, and projected offensive performance (all of which tilt in Correa’s favor) seriously. But let’s keep an eye out for any news. I think some players/teams were probably eyeballing today as a good one for a deadline. And no matter what, Story’s decision, if it comes first, will impact the Correa market to some extent.
