May is almost over, meaning it's only a matter of time before trade activity picks up around the Majors. This year's MLB trade deadline goes into effect at 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 31, giving the Boston Red Sox a little over two months to upgrade their roster after an uninspiring 25-26 start to the 2025 season.
As much as the deadline is about adding help, it's also an opportunity for MLB clubs to get rid of detrimental contracts. Unfortunately, the Red Sox aren't exempt from signings that have aged poorly, which includes the contract of one veteran infielder who's all but certainly played himself out of Boston with his poor 2025 performance.
Trevor Story is Playing Himself Off Red Sox Before Trade Deadline
Several Red Sox are failing to meet expectations this season, but few are struggling as much to reach their potential as Trevor Story. Even though the veteran shortstop is experiencing a rare healthy season, his clean bill of health hasn't produced results that live up to the six-year, $140 million contract with Boston in March 2022.
Story opened the 2025 campaign with plenty of promise, racking up five home runs and 15 RBIs while slashing .337/.366/.528 across his first 23 games (89 at-bats). Since then, though, the former two-time Silver Slugger's performance has been abysmally pedestrian, as he's only mustered one homer and six RBIs with a .130/.187/.160 slash line in his last 25 outings (100 ABs).
Additionally, Story went from having a 26.9% strikeout percentage in his first 23 contests compared to a rate of 33.6% in his last 25, further illustrating how much his play has worsened with time.
Unless he turns things around, it's hard to imagine Story surviving the trade deadline in Boston. His performance hasn't come close to matching the $22.5 million salary he's earning this year, and there's a good chance it's left the Red Sox wondering if they want to pay him another $50 million across the next two seasons, as well as a $25 million team option in 2028.
Although moving on from a starter isn't always easy, the Red Sox are fortunate to have backup options in case Story is traded. Kristian Campbell is thriving at the MLB level and has experience playing shortstop, while top prospect Marcelo Mayer has the potential to fill in for Story once he's finally promoted.
Big-money deals don't always meet expectations, and Story's contract is a cautionary tale the Red Sox shouldn't forget. If there's an opportunity to move on from the slumping, injury-prone veteran before the 2025 trade deadline arrives, Boston would be wise to take any opportunity to get Story off the books before his performance worsens more.