Which groups are the very best matches for two-time All-Star SS Trevor Story?

Trevor Story is certainly one of two star free-agent shortstops remaining in the marketplace. To some extent, he’s in a second tier of his personal at this level. Carlos Correa is the clear prize of the category. He’s two years youthful than Story with extra upside on either side of the ball, and there will probably be a reasonably important hole in every participant’s respective contract reflecting that.

But Story needs to be in excessive demand in his personal proper. Just one staff can land Correa, and plenty of might not wish to entertain an asking value that would method or high the $325M Corey Seager landed from the Rangers. Story’s the one different shortstop nonetheless in the marketplace who’s more likely to provide above-average manufacturing for the following few seasons.

Let’s check out some potential suitors and attempt to peg Story’s likeliest touchdown spot. A couple of golf equipment are such longshots they solely warrant cursory point out. The Orioles, Pirates and D-Backs aren’t within the type of aggressive window that means they’d make this sort of splash. The A’s and Reds are far likelier to chop payroll than make a nine-figure funding. The Rays, Brewers and Royals don’t usually spend at this stage and have an abundance of infielders anyhow. The Rangers have already signed each Seager and Marcus Semien within the center infield and have Josh Jung approaching at third base.

Which groups make extra sense?

Golf equipment With Infield Alternative And Identified Curiosity

• Mariners — Jon Heyman of the MLB Community indicated previous to the lockout that the Mariners had put a proposal on the desk to Story. Seattle’s recognized to be pursuing infielders, and whereas they may roll with a bunch of Ty France, Adam Frazier, J.P. Crawford and Abraham Toro, including Story can be a pleasant enhance on either side of the ball. President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto has been adamant about retaining Crawford at shortstop, but when Story’s amenable, he might slide to second base and push Frazier and/or Toro into roving utility roles.
• Astros — The Astros are dealing with Correa’s potential departure and have Aledmys Díaz as their high in-house choice at shortstop. High prospect Jeremy Peña isn’t far off big-league readiness, however Houston’s a win-now membership with out many vacancies on the roster. Apart from maybe left-handed reduction, shortstop is the one actual query mark. Signing Story would reaffirm their place as among the finest groups within the sport, and Heyman reported they’ve proven some curiosity.
• Pink Sox — Heyman additionally reported the Pink Sox had expressed curiosity with Story’s camp. Xander Bogaerts is a star, however he can decide out of his present contract after subsequent season. Boston additionally has some uncertainty at second base, and both of Story or Bogaerts might slide to the opposite aspect of the diamond. As with Houston, it is a big-market staff that wasn’t removed from a championship final yr.

Stable Speculative Suits

• Angels — The Angels in-house shortstop choices (Tyler Wade, Luis Rengifo, Jack Mayfield and Andrew Velazquez) aren’t sufficient for a hopeful contender. Los Angeles already has a number of long-term investments for place gamers on the books, and so they should still wish to add one other arm or two on the pitching workers. Locking in some certainty within the center infield is a necessity, although, and Story matches the invoice.
• Blue Jays — The Jays have Bo Bichette at shortstop, however they’re dealing with some questions at each second and third base. They signed Semien to maneuver off shortstop final winter; may they think about an analogous tack with Story? There appears to be some payroll flexibility with which to work, as Toronto made a run at Seager earlier than he landed in Texas.
• Cardinals — The Cardinals might attempt to improve over the Paul DeJong/Edmundo Sosa pairing at shortstop. That’s significantly true if DeJong finally ends up traded. So far within the winter, although, there hasn’t been a lot indication that’s a precedence for St. Louis. The Cardinals appear more interested in upgrading the bullpen and maybe including to the DH combine.
• Cubs — The Cubs have been tied to Correa for a lot of the winter. They’re reportedly loath to decide to a decade-long deal, and Story might make sense as a fallback. The Cubs have taken a step again just lately, and maybe they view Correa as a singular participant value spending for. Would they pivot to Story or be content material to trip issues out with their inside choices?
• Dodgers — The Dodgers misplaced Seager and haven’t executed a lot to interchange him this winter. The Trea Turner acquisition finally summer time’s deadline might be the required shortstop substitute, with Chris Taylor/Gavin Lux/Max Muncy logging motion at second base. Los Angeles has been tied to Correa, although, suggesting they’re open to a star shortstop.
• Phillies — The Phillies have query marks in each positions on the appropriate aspect of the infield. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has already instructed incumbent Didi Gregorius he’s not assured of retaining the shortstop job. Story’s an excellent match on paper, significantly given the staff’s need to improve defensively. The query: will they wish to commit large sources at shortstop with query marks at third base, the bullpen and two outfield spots?
• Twins — The Twins try to instantly rebound from a disastrous 2021 season. They primarily don’t have a beginning shortstop. Jorge Polanco had a very good season offensively after transferring from shortstop to second base. He might theoretically transfer again to quick, with Luis Arráez stepping in at second. But that’s a suboptimal defensive group. Including a shortstop is sensible, however Minnesota may choose to allocate their sources to a rotation that has a minimum of two vacancies.
• White Sox — The White Sox have a query mark at second base. That was the case on the commerce deadline too, and Bob Nightengale of USA In the present day reported on the time they thought of a deal for Story. Nothing materialized, but it surely stands to motive they’d have some curiosity in a run at him now that he’s a free agent. The potential hold-up, as with a number of different groups, is funds. Chicago’s already at a projected franchise file by way of participant spending.
• Yankees — The Yankees entered the offseason with such a obvious want at shortstop that common supervisor Brian Cashman frankly stated they “have to deal with” the place. To date, they haven’t. Correa and Story are their final hopes at making an impression add by way of free company, however varied stories all through the winter instructed they could search for lower-cost stopgap choices with high prospects Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe not far off big-league readiness. Would the Yankees pivot to signal a higher-impact participant like Story as soon as the brand new CBA is in place and so they have a clearer image of the luxurious tax panorama?

Longer Pictures

• Giants — The Giants have a ton of payroll house, however stories have instructed they’d choose to spread their resources around slightly than decide to a star free agent. Brandon Crawford is already locked in at shortstop. San Francisco might flip to Story as an improve over Tommy La Stella at second base, however the outfield and pitching workers look like cleaner matches in the event that they do reverse course and make a giant splash.
• Guardians — The Guardians have by no means gone past a $60M guarantee on a single participant. There’s primarily no long-term commitments on the books and Cleveland might add at shortstop and push Amed Rosario into the outfield, but it surely’s unlikely until Story’s market unexpectedly craters.
• Marlins — The Marlins try so as to add to the offense, however Story’s in all probability out of their value vary. With Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Miguel Rojas within the center infield, the outfield looks like an even bigger precedence anyhow.
• Nationals — The Nationals have long-term payroll house and an apparent want at shortstop. They may signal Story with a watch in the direction of locking in some certainty for 2023 and past, however that type of splash doesn’t appear to be within the playing cards this offseason.
• Rockies — Story’s former membership has expressed curiosity in bringing him again. There’s no indication they’ve saved involved by way of the offseason, although. Story has expressed some frustration with the group’s administration up to now, and it’d be an actual shock if he finally ends up returning.
• Tigers — The Tigers have been lively this winter and will nonetheless attempt to improve at second base. After signing
  Javier Báez to a six-year deal, although, they don’t look more likely to be a critical participant for Story.

Can By no means Rule Them Out, However There Are Most likely Different Priorities

• Braves — The Braves have been quiet to this point, seemingly ready out a call from Freddie Freeman. They’ve already obtained Ozzie Albies, Dansby Swanson and Austin Riley across the infield, so there’s no actual want. But they’ve been tied to Correa, a minimum of suggesting some openness to including a shortstop (maybe then buying and selling Swanson for pitching assist).
• Mets — The Mets went hog-wild after putting in their new entrance workplace. They’re seemingly in line to shatter no matter CBT thresholds are put in place, and with that type of monetary backing from proprietor Steve Cohen, it’s not possible to rule them out on anybody completely. Shortstop’s already accounted for with Francisco Lindor, although, and Jeff McNeil, Robinson Canó, J.D. Davis and newcomer Eduardo Escobar are already available as second/third base choices. Beginning pitching seems to be to be the larger precedence at this level.
• Padres — President of baseball operations A.J. Preller has boldly struck even within the absence of an apparent staff want earlier than. However with Fernando Tatís Jr., Manny Machado and Jake Cronenworth, there’s already an excellent infield in place.