As expected, the Red Sox activated shortstop Trevor Story from the 60-day injured list, as the former two-time All-Star is set for his big league action since the first week of April. In the corresponding 40-man roster move, right-hander Isaiah Campbell was called up from Triple-A and placed on the big league version of the 60-day IL, so Campbell’s season has officially been ended by right elbow inflammation. As reported earlier today by NESN’s Jahmai Webster, catcher/infielder Mickey Gasper was optioned to Triple-A to make space for Story on the active roster.
While diving for a grounder in Boston’s game with the Angels back on April 5, Story suffered a severe shoulder injury that required what was thought at the time to be a season-ending surgery. Story went through rehab and felt better than expected as he regained strength in his shoulder, and things have improved to the point that Story will make it back onto the field with a few weeks to spare in the 2024 campaign.
Since signing a six-year, $140MM free agent deal with the Red Sox prior to the 2022 season, Story has appeared in only 145 games, as his shoulder surgery was only the latest in a long string of injuries. He was at least a league-average hitter with an even 100 wRC+ from his .238/.303/.434 slash line and 16 homers over 396 plate appearances in 2022, but he has an ugly .575 OPS in the 202 PA since even that debut season in Boston.
Story’s glovework has still remained solid even throughout his struggles at the plate, so at the very least, his return should improve what has been a dismal defensive showing by Boston’s middle infielders in his absence. Ceddanne Rafaela and David Hamilton have shared most of the shortstop duties in Story’s absence this year, though Hamilton is on the IL himself with a finger fracture that threatens to end his season.
As Story resumes his old post at shortstop, the Red Sox will be moving Rafaela to second base, in the hopes that the rookie can both find more individual success at the new position and also help the Sox finally find an answer at the keystone. Rafaela is one of an astounding 11 players who have seen time at second base for Boston this season, and the move to the other side of the infield should make Rafaela more of a defensive asset.
Campbell made his Major League debut with the Mariners in 2023, and had made a good first impression with a 2.83 ERA in 28 2/3 innings out of Seattle’s bullpen. The Red Sox were intrigued enough to acquire Campbell for Luis Urias back in November, but between injuries and a lot of time in Triple-A, Campbell has managed only a 16.20 ERA in 6 2/3 innings for Boston at the big league level. Due to his health issues, Campbell hasn’t pitched since he took the mound for Triple-A Worcester in the middle of July.
Here we go!
Good to have Story back.
Not giving up yet… all it takes is a Rockies run like 2007 and we’re in!!!
More like a Rocketts run, kick step kick. Exit stage left you go
There’s a few layers to this joke, and I appreciate them.
What a waste of dough. Ahahaha!
He still has time to be worth it. His contract wasn’t crazy. Dude did all he could to get back. Give him credit for that. Hope this is his time.
Question is how long before he gets hurt again.
He’s only had 2 significant injuries in his career. The elbow injury and ensuing surgery. Then fractured shoulder diving to make a play.
I get the timing made it look as though Story is injury prone. In reality though it was just unfortunate luck for him and the Sox.
Why not have Story play 2nd?
His defense at Short is better than anyone else they have. Why would you play him at second? Why put a riskier defensive player at short?
I’m not positive of that… Rafaela is +1 FRV at SS since July 3 and has the stronger arm. Story is an excellent defender, but showed in 2022 that he was also great at 2B.
But not complaining, these things have a way of working out. And I’m not positive you are wrong either.
You’re probably right. I just think it’s easier to justify the salary by playing him at short. Expensive second baseman doesn’t sit well or trade well.
But a shortstop who bangs 20 homers, great defense, could possibly be shipped out to a team in need next spring?
Yeah, he’ll have more trade value if seen as a shortstop. Not that I see any path to justify his salary at this point.
tff17
T.Story (SS) 2023-2024 Red Sox
408.2 Inn, +11 Drs, +9 OAA, +7 FRV, +1.3 dWAR
Story is on the trajectory of an elite shortstop defense.
If his arm was weak, he wouldn’t be able to put up such numbers on defense.
You can check out the chart of MLB’s active career shortstops to date and Story easily ranks in the top five defensively – Lindor, Correa, Crawford, Ahmed, Story.
Rafaela until July 3
– 9 Drs, – 9 OAA, -6 FRV
after July 3 to date
– 2 Drs, – 7 OAA, -5 FRV
We can see the dynamics of Rafaela’s improvement in defense over this period;
+7 Drs, +2 OAA, +1 FRV
Ceddanne can be an above-average defender at shortstop.
He’s an elite center defender, imagine if he played a full season at center in 2024…
baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/arm-strength?ty…
Easiest way to judge arm strength is to look at arm strength…. His max throw last year was 84.1, which is well below average the average 86.3 for a shortstop. His average throw last year was 81.2. He doesn’t have enough throws this year to make the leaderboard, but his max throw this year is 80.4.
He makes up for that to a degree with clean motions and a quick release, but his arm is nonetheless among the weakest at the position. Most players (like Bogaerts) whose arm falls to 81 get moved to second base where the range and athleticism are still valuable but the arm is less of an issue.
Like Chris Sale this should be a new Story untold.
Sorry, dreamers, but the Sox aren’t getting into the post-season. Let Story heal until next spring.
Pretty sure he’s healed bro.
They can see what he’s like over the last 20g. What saw tonight was decent glove, but the arm (not shoulder injured) didn’t look strong at all on any of the 4-5 throws he made to 1b. maybe it’s 1st game back.. hope so.
What the team does have headed into the offseason is a glut of middle IF. This won’t be popular with the fan base, but i suggest trying to sell high on David Hamilton, whom I like also. Team simply has too many ss/2b folks as it is and he’s the one (removing top kids Meyer/Campbell) who could be included in a deal to get back some (any) pitching help.
They already have Sogard/Meidroth/Grissom at AAA, not to mention whatever they do with Valdez. Story at SS unless hurt and the 2 top prospects. Hamilton pretty much is a trade piece unfortunately.
John: Agreed that it would be ok to trade Hamilton. I think they would prefer to keep Romy Gonzalez over him since Romy is a RH hitter that can also steal bases. Valdez could go too. Not sure they have a lot of trade value, but they do have some value.
Allinthesuit- Think Valdez may end up as a lost via waiver claim if he’s not packaged off as a low end chip in some larger deal early this coming offseason. Think he’s pretty much bottom of the rest of the players we named talent wise and his numerous defensive lapses at 2b, plus really just 2b profile.
Would like to see Romy stick around next year also as a super sub. he’s shown lots of grit. might not have the greatest glove at any position, but isn’t an auto out at the plate and knows how to run the bases.
It’s a well-known fact that if you can, then get some innings in if you’re healthy. You definitely play some at the end of the season instead of waiting all the way through next year. It helps with the psyche.
Yes there are many situations where you just hold the guy out for next year, but this isn’t one of them.
He’s fine.
It’s the story, of a lovely lady
There’s a goal. Trevor Story and Richard Lovelady on the same team.
Good to see him back, even if it doesn’t make a difference this season.
That’s interesting the Red Sox are moving Rafaela to second. Especially because he’s playing centerfield..
Yep tonight’s the only game of the whole season. It’s over after tonight. Great point. Such a genius. And you’re the guy that picks on others if they don’t make a perfectly factual point. Good grief.
Some guys just exude negativity and a critical spirit. If the Red Sox rep told a reporter that Rafael is going to play second then that’s where he’ll play. But we also know he plays center, right? You didn’t know that he sometimes plays center? Genius.
Guys that are critical of others and then make stupid comments just get my brow furrowed. You call out others and then you make a stupid remark yourself.
Cut people some slack, you’re not so perfect.
Too little too late…..lol
I’m surprised they won’t put story back at 2nd with Rafaela being a good defender
But I’m also surprised they aren’t putting Rafaela in center with them putting story at short
You actually aren’t surprised, because he’s playing center
The article said they are moving him to 2nd
They didn’t.
I can’t believe this guy was the, “just in case Xander leaves” insurance
I can’t believe you’re bringing up Xander leaving like it was a bad thing.
Have you paid attention to baseball over the past two years? San Diego is on the hook for another 250 million bucks and Xander has a .690 OPS. Which if you don’t know, is bad.
The Red Sox fan base is amazing. Any time the front office does something right, it’s totally ignored.
Wondering when the HO did any right the past 6 years?
More than fine with x and his attitude moving on X is no longer a ss btw, he’s at 2B now.
I only came here to post one thing. Where’s Carmine Sandiago or whatever his name is. He’s the one who said our season depended on trading for Garrett Crochet at the deadline. What is Crochet up to now? Ha ha ha ha ha.
In fairness , yes Xander is over paid. He takes the field a heck of a lot more than Story. Story gets paid for what exactly? You check Story OPS ? He isn’t exactly tearing it up since he has been in Boston
I didn’t say a word about Story.
I’m making fun of the guy who doesn’t know the Red Sox dodged a bullet with Boegarts.
They’re paying him 25M a year until 2033.
Once more. They’re paying him 25M a year until 2033.
.690 OPS.
To play 2B…
I don’t know exactly what you’re “making fun of” here if anything you sound extremely defensive. All the Red Sox did was replace a bad player for another bad player and you’re justifying it by saying at least his awful contract isn’t as bad as another awful contract. I’m probably more up to date on your own team than you are. Thank you for clearing up that a sub .700 OPS is bad that I had nooooo idea.
You realize both guys can be on bad contracts, right?
Exactly.
Many say Boegarts has the worst contract in baseball. Yes, we know Story has a bad contract too.
yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/san_diego_padres_contr…
si.com/mlb/padres/news/padres-news-xander-bogaerts…
lastwordonsports.com/baseball/2024/08/10/padres-co…
en.albat.com/thebigs/MLB-Is-Xander-Bogaerts-Becomi…
So Cora leaves in Criswell after the forth inning this game he pitched 79 pitches tonight
Last time he had a prefect game after 4. Only 52 pitches and Cora takes him out.
Can anyone tell me the difference here other than I truly believe Cora can’t manage F/A
And wants to lose any chance he gets
I’m not sure if Criswell is worked up for a hundred pitches yet? Haven’t they yanked him in and out of the rotation? Maybe you’re right and he is ready and Cora is not handling it right?
My guess is that they had Hill relieving him in the last game, and Hill isn’t used ti warming up as a reliever – starters take a much longer time and might need to begin an inning or two earlier.
But nothing else makes any sense at all. He had already been throwing 18+ TBF, so pulling him after just 12 was unexpected.
I don’t think the Sox staff even know what they’re doing now. They’re about as inefficient as the name “acell.” Makes no sense.