The Boston Red Sox currently sit six games behind first place in the American League East, and as the trade deadline approaches, the team is beginning to evaluate potential trade candidates.
Several names are likely on fans’ radars due to recent struggles, but one name that has come up repeatedly this season has been making a strong push to turn things around over the past month.
Trevor Story was one of the most frequently mentioned players in trade discussions, and at one point, some fans even viewed him as a DFA (designated for assignment) candidate. After hitting just .158/.200/.232 with a .432 OPS in May, many were ready to give up on the veteran infielder.
Trevor Story Silencing Doubters With Recent Performance
However, Story has started to silence those doubts in June. He’s showing signs of returning to form and giving the Red Sox a reason to believe in him. Although his season average sits at .231, he has boosted that mark with a strong June, slashing .278/.316/.458 with a .774 OPS and three home runs. He now has 10 home runs on the year.
That doesn’t necessarily mean Story is safe from being moved, but it’s clear he still wants to be in Boston. Story has shown time and time again how much he values the city and what it means to wear a Red Sox uniform. It’s fair to say he would prefer to stay put and avoid being traded or even DFA’d.
With 10 home runs, Story now ranks third on the team, trailing only the injured Alex Bregman (11) and slugger Wilyer Abreu (13). Another player ahead of him in that category was recently traded to the Giants, bumping Story up the list.
While home run totals aren’t everything, Story’s veteran presence—paired with a resurging bat—is another reason the team may choose to keep him. The Red Sox had several chances to move on in May, when Story held the lowest OPS and batting average on the roster as of May 23. But chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and manager Alex Cora showed faith in him, keeping him on the roster and in the lineup despite his struggles.
Has that faith paid off? It might be too early to say definitively. Once June wraps up, we’ll have a clearer picture—whether Story just went on a hot streak or if May was simply the low point of his 2025 season.
With Boston still in need of starting pitching and reportedly open to adding a first baseman, the club has no shortage of potential trade chips. The question is: Will Story be one of the players moved? Or has his leadership and strong June performance done enough to convince the front office to keep him in Boston?