The 2022 MLB offseason has been on a heck of a ride for the entire league. Months and months of negotiation and conversation about the new CBA ended on March 12, 2022. The Red Sox had made a little bit of noise in the beginning stages of the offseason by adding Jackie Bradley Jr to the outfield and shoring up a center field position for a ballpark that is one of the toughest for the outfielders.
Confirmed by ESPN, Chaim Bloom and the Boston Red Sox make their first real splash of the 2022 MLB offseason by signing the 29-year-old, Trevor Story to a 6 year, $140 million contract with an opt-out after the fourth season. The deal puts the Sox over the luxury tax mark of $230 million, making a flexibility problem in the middle of the season if an addition is needed. In a loaded free agency class in the infield, Boston lands one of them after Correa, Seager, Semien, and Baez all made their respective decisions.
The right-handed hitter grew up a Rangers fan in Irving, Texas, but next season he will be repping the red and white for the Fenway faithful. During his six seasons in the mile-high city, Story was a two-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger award winner. The shortstop is predominantly known for his power, as he hit 30 plus home runs in two of his six seasons in Colorado. Story has also received some MVP recognition in the National League in three seasons, finishing as high as eighth in 2018.
With Boston having the defending AL All-Star teams' left side of the infield, Story is the perfect addition to play in a spot that Dustin Pedroia once called home. Enrique Hernandez and Chrisitan Arroyo filled in the second base position most of the time for Boston, but with a former All-Star, and top of the lineup hitter, Story will make Cora's decision an easy one. The addition of the Texas native makes the Red Sox infield one of the most lethal in Major League Baseball. Triston Casas is yet to even be called up for the Sox for the 2022 season, which means the sky's the limit for an infield that now has three All-Stars at its disposal.
When the deal broke, a lot of Boston players gave their reactions, including Red Sox ace Nathan Eovaldi who stated, "It shows us the front office...we know that they want to want to win ... but then to add another big piece to the organization like that would be huge...And the energy and everything that he brings to the team, seeing him across the field, it's exciting watching him play. And to have him back there behind you, especially for me while I'm pitching, and then scoring runs for us...Our lineup is already extremely talented, and to add another piece like that, it's only going to make us better."
The slugger should make an incredible impact on the team as he fits the role the team needs seamlessly. Losing Schwarber to the Phillies, and trading away Renfroe created an opening for another power bat. Casas is coming up from the minors, and it doesn't make much sense to block him with Freddie Freeman, so Bloom went out and added a much-needed right-handed bat for a position that has not been consistent for years. Sure Arroyo has the ability to play well at times, but Story is just on another level talent-wise.
The slugger should make an incredible impact on the team as he fits the role the team needs seamlessly. Losing Schwarber to the Phillies, and trading away Renfroe created an opening for another power bat. Casas is coming up from the minors, and it doesn't make much sense to block him with Freddie Freeman, so Bloom went out and added a much-needed right-handed bat for a position that has not been consistent for years. Sure Arroyo has the ability to play well at times, but Story is just on another level talent-wise.
In just six years in Purple and White, Story became one of the team's best players in its history. Story is top-10 in doubles all-time, top-three in defensive WAR, top-10 in slugging percentage, and tenth in Colorado's history in home runs with 158. It is back-to-back offseasons that the Rockies will lose one of its star players, and after a 74-87 season, the team that surprisingly won the Kris Bryant sweepstakes will have to cope with life without another star infielder.
Boston gets to reap the benefits of a player that will be hitting bombs at the top of the order come the start of the season on April 7, 2022, when the Red Sox take on their bitter rivals on the opening day who are seeking revenge from last years' Wild Card game. Even with Boston losing two of its best hitters from last season's team, the addition of Story seems to have made up for all of that. Some more arms in the bullpen could be useful, but bringing back the gun-slinging reliever Hansel Robles over the weekend will without a doubt help.
When analyzing Boston's lineup heading into opening day in a few weeks, the league should be petrified. Cora will have Devers, Hernandez, Boegarts, J. D. Martinez, and now Story to play with when it comes to the order. There is no shortage of power on this roster who was hitting grand slams on a regular clip during the 2021 MLB postseason. Story is coming off one of his worst seasons as a pro, hitting for the second-lowest batting average of his career. After the trade deadline last season, Story improved the narrative of his season and will be heading into a loaded Boston team looking to make an impact right out of the gate.
-Caden
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