Trevor Story Injury Update: Expected Return Date, Fantasy Impact & What It Means for the Red Sox

Trevor Story Opts In: What His $55 Million Decision Means for the Red Sox Boston—Trevor Story ended weeks of speculation Tuesday by exercising the opt-in clause on his six-year contract, locking himself into the final two seasons and $55 million guaranteed for 2026–27 with the Boston Red Sox. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the shortstop informed the club before Wednesday’s midnight deadline that he would forego free agency and remain in Boston. The team retains a $25 million club option for 2028 with a $5 million buyout, pushing Story’s maximum Red Sox payday to $80 million over the next three winters. Rebound Season Fueled the Choice After elbow surgery wiped out most of 2023, Story bounced back in 2025 with his most complete campaign since leaving Colorado. He appeared in 157 games, slashing .263/.319/.422 with 25 home runs, 96 RBI, 91 runs and a career-high 31 stolen bases on 31 attempts, good for a .741 OPS and 4.6 fWAR. Defensively, the 32-year-old ranked fourth among American League shortstops with eight defensive runs saved, calming doubts about his post-injury arm strength. Cap-Sheet Clarity for Craig Breslow Story’s decision gives chief baseball officer Craig Breslow a clearer offseason road map. Boston owes the infielder $25 million annually in 2026 and 2027, but avoiding a fresh long-term shortstop contract frees resources to chase starting pitching and right-field help. With Marcelo Mayer still projected for a mid-2026 debut, Story’s presence also buys development time for the club’s No. 1 prospect. Roster Dominoes • Second base is now open for competition among David Hamilton, Enmanuel Valdez and free-agent stopgaps. • If Breslow lands a headline shortstop via trade, Story’s versatility—he posted +5 DRS at second in 2022—allows a shift back to the keystone. • Boston can still explore an extension that smooths the $50 million luxury-tax hit, much like the team did with Rafael Devers. Fantasy & Betting Angle Story’s elite 31-for-31 success rate on the bases suggests the new pickoff rules amplify his fantasy value in 2026. Early NFBC mocks peg him as a top-100 pick after finishing 2025 as the No. 7 shortstop on ESPN’s Player Rater. Bettors should note that Story’s presence boosts Boston’s projected 2026 win total by roughly two victories, according to ZiPS WAR translations. What’s Next The Red Sox open the Winter Meetings with middle infield stability and roughly $45 million below the first luxury-tax threshold. Expect trade rumors surrounding controllable arms such as Dylan Cease to intensify. For now, Trevor Story’s opt-in signals that Boston’s rebuild-on-the-fly still revolves around a veteran core determined to return Fenway Park to October baseball.