Title: Trevor Story’s Return Brings One More Infield Question for the Red Sox
The return of Trevor Story to the Boston Red Sox lineup for 2026 is undeniably a positive — but it also raises one nagging question for the infield configuration that fans and analysts alike must now wrestle with.
On the plus side, Story’s resurgence in the 2025 season offers fresh hope. After two injury-marred years, he appeared in 157 games, posted a .263 batting average (his best since 2020), and mashed 25 home runs. (Reuters) That kind of durability and production had been missing, so his return to form undeniably represents a huge improvement.
Defensively, Story has also shown glimpses of the player the Red Sox hoped to get when they signed him: athletic, capable of making impressive plays at shortstop when healthy. (CBS News)
Yet here’s where the question emerges: if Story is set to return and take up his regular role, what becomes of the rest of the infield mix — especially given that the Red Sox have other pieces and prospects they want to see in action?
Why the question matters
- Contract and expectations: Story is under contract through at least 2026 with the Red Sox having a club option for 2028. (Reuters) That puts him squarely in their plans — but also increases the pressure to allocate playing time wisely.
- Other infield assets: The club added Alex Bregman for his leadership and offensive value, and they have young middle-infield talent waiting in the wings. Story himself even acknowledged Bregman’s impact and how the addition changed expectations. (ClutchPoints)
- Defensive suitability and health concerns: Despite the uptick, some scouts are skeptical about whether Story remains best-suited for shortstop long-term. (SI) He’s endured multiple injuries (elbow, shoulder, etc.) and defensive metrics have taken a hit during his Boston tenure. (The Portland Press Herald)
- Infield alignment and playing-time optimization: If Story takes up the primary shortstop role (or even a full-time role), it limits flexibility for younger players and may force the team into a defensive/offensive compromise elsewhere. Given the big contract, Story may get priority — but that doesn’t guarantee optimal lineup construction for overall roster strength.
Example scenarios and implications
- If Story locks in at shortstop, then Bregman likely plays third base (his natural role) or possibly second base in a shift, and the club must find time for prospects somewhere else. That might work in the short term but could block development of younger infielders.
- If Boston opts to move Story to second base (to reduce stress on his arm or decline) then they must either find a new shortstop or shift Bregman to short (which isn’t his ideal position). That opens questions about defensive cohesion.
- If Story remains part-time (given his injury history) and if the club rotates younger options, that throws into question how often and where he plays — and whether his contract will pay off in full.
Fan reaction and over-enthusiasm risk
Some Red Sox fans may be tempted to over-react positively to Story’s return — seeing his bounce-back season and hoping the infield aligns seamlessly with him in charge. But doing so overlooks the complexity: his contract size, health history, defensive durability and the presence of other infield pieces all combine to make this more of a “good problem” than a solved one.
For example, while Story’s resurgence was real, he still has to prove sustained health and consistent performance. And alignment decisions must account for the entire infield unit, not just his individual success.
Conclusion
The return of Trevor Story is unquestionably a big win for the Red Sox — he brings regained offensive punch, defensive flash, and veteran experience. But at the same time, it adds one more question to the infield puzzle: Where does everyone fit, and how do you maximize talent while minimizing risk? Boston may have improved in one major area, yet they now face a nuanced balancing act to turn that improvement into a truly optimized infield.
