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Red Sox’s Blatant Trade Candidate Everyone’s Ignoring
Red Sox Trade Deadline Drama: The Trevor Story Situation Explained Simply
What’s Happening Right Now?
Imagine you’re playing musical chairs, but there are too many players and not enough chairs. That’s basically the Boston Red Sox’s shortstop situation right now — with the trade deadline just five days away.
The Shortstop Traffic Jam
The Red Sox have six shortstops either on the team or coming back from injury soon. Here’s the lineup:
Currently Healthy & On the 40-Man Roster
- Andruw Monasterio
- Tseng-Che Cheng (helped a lot during the recent 15-game winning streak!)
On the Injured List (But Rehabbing)
- Trevor Story — veteran leader, had sports hernia surgery in May
- Marcelo Mayer — top prospect, got a chance at shortstop but struggled, then got hurt
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa — experienced utility player
Important Point: By late August, all these players could be healthy. That’s too many shortstops for one team — someone has to go.
Why Trevor Story Is the Most Likely to Be Traded
The Money Problem (Explained Simply)
Think of the luxury tax like a salary cap with penalties. Teams that spend over a certain amount pay extra fees.
| Player | 2027 Salary | Trade Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Masataka Yoshida | $18.7 million | Very hard to trade — contract too big |
| Trevor Story | $25 million | Easier — Red Sox might pay most of it just to save luxury tax money |
Here’s the logic: The Red Sox might be willing to pay almost all of Story’s $25 million salary just to save a few million in luxury tax penalties. It’s like paying $25 to avoid a $30 fine — you still come out ahead.
What the Experts Are Saying
Jen McCaffrey (reporter for The Athletic) said on Wednesday:
"Trading Story is an option, but finding a suitor might be tough."
Translation: The Red Sox could trade him, but they haven’t actively tried yet — and other teams might not want his contract.
How We Got Here: A Quick Timeline
- May 2026 — Trevor Story has sports hernia surgery
- May–June — Marcelo Mayer gets his chance at shortstop
- Recent weeks — Mayer struggles, then lands on injured list
- Recent 15-game streak — Tseng-Che Cheng steps up and plays well
- Now — Trade deadline in 5 days, too many shortstops returning soon
The Big "What If" Scenario
The Red Sox have been linked to big-name shortstops like:
- Zach Neto (Angels)
- CJ Abrams (Nationals)
- Jeremy Peña (Astros)
- Francisco Lindor (Mets) — though reports say he’s not available
If they trade for one of these stars, Trevor Story becomes a $25 million bench player — a respected veteran leader with no position to play.
That’s awkward for everyone. So trading Story before or along with a new shortstop arrival makes sense.
Could a Trade Actually Happen by Monday?
Maybe. Here’s what would need to happen:
- A team needs a shortstop badly enough to take on Story’s contract
- The Red Sox agree to pay most of his $25 million salary
- Story approves the trade (he may have some say due to his contract)
- Deal gets done before the Monday deadline
Reality Check: Most insiders say don’t expect a trade — but keep it in your back pocket as a real possibility if a big shortstop becomes available.
Summary
- Trade deadline: 5 days away (Monday)
- Problem: 6 shortstops for 1 position by late August
- Most likely to go: Trevor Story ($25M salary, veteran, Red Sox may eat cost to save luxury tax)
- Expert opinion: Possible but not actively pursued; finding a trade partner is tough
- Trigger: If Red Sox land a star shortstop, Story almost certainly gets moved
FAQ
Why can’t the Red Sox just keep all their shortstops?
A: MLB teams have a 26-man active roster limit. You can’t carry 6 shortstops — you need pitchers, catchers, outfielders, etc. Someone must be traded, sent to minors, or released.
What does "eating salary" mean?
A: When Team A trades a player to Team B but agrees to keep paying part (or all) of his salary. The Red Sox might pay $20M of Story’s $25M so the new team only pays $5M.
Does Trevor Story have a say in where he goes?
A: Players with 10+ years of service time and 5+ years with current team get "10-and-5 rights" — they can veto any trade. Story is close but may not quite qualify yet.
Who is Tseng-Che Cheng and why does he matter?
A: A young infielder who played really well during the Red Sox’s 15-game winning streak. He’s cheap, controllable, and proved he belongs — making the veteran Story more expendable.
What happens if no trade happens by Monday?
A: Story stays. The logjam continues until someone gets injured again, or the Red Sox make a tough roster decision in August (like sending someone to the minors or releasing a player).
