NEW YORK — A somber visitor’s clubhouse at Yankee Stadium was filled with Red Sox players and coaches hugging each other goodbye after a 4-0, season-ending loss to the Yankees in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series on Thursday. There was also an air of uncertainty about the future of Boston’s veteran core.
Shortstop Trevor Story and third baseman Alex Bregman — the two clear leaders of the club among position players — both have opt-out clauses in their contracts that would allow them to become free agents this winter. Neither veteran has committed to either returning or opting out. Bregman, who joined Boston on a heavily deferred three-year, $120 million contract in February, has two years and $80 million remaining on his deal (and an opt-out after 2026). Story has two years and $55 million remaining on his six-year, $140 million contract he signed in 2022. If he does opt out, the Red Sox can void that decision by tacking on an extra year (2028) and an extra $20 million.
Minutes after the season ended, neither Bregman nor Story would commit to a choice, which is due five days after the conclusion of the World Series. Story, though, intimated that he has no designs on leaving Boston.
“It’s not at the top of mind. I’m not gonna speak on that right now,” he said. “But I came here to be here for a long time.”
Bregman was more coy.
“Not even thinking about that at all right now. Thinking about the game that just happened,” he said. ” I’m gonna think about this game and the guys in the room and start my offseason. Get after it and become a better baseball player.”
Neither player has a very straightforward decision to make. Bregman, a Scott Boras client, looked like a clear opt-out candidate when he started the season with a .299 average, 11 homers and a .938 OPS in 51 games before suffering a quad injury on May 23. He then missed seven weeks and cooled off significantly in the second half, hitting just .250 with seven homers, 27 RBIs and a .727 OPS in his final 61 games while slumping significantly in September.
Story had a bit of an opposite season, as he was hitting .216 with a .585 OPS on June 1 after a horrendous May that had some wondering if the Red Sox were looking to cut bait. He rebounded nicely and had a strong second half, posting a .778 OPS en route to leading the Red Sox in RBIs (96). He hit 25 homers, stole 31 bases and largely played steady defense while proving his health by playing in 157 games (plus three in the postseason). There’s a case to be made Story could exceed the rest of his Red Sox contract on the open market; Bregman is known to want a longer deal, too.
In mid-September, a Red Sox source said that as of that moment, his expectation was that Bregman, because of Boras’ track record with high-profile clients, would opt out, while Story would stay. The club could also look to re-negotiate creative deals with both players in the coming weeks.
If it were up to Story, re-signing Bregman would be a top offseason priority for chief baseball officer Craig Breslow.
“You saw the impact he had on this organization on the field and off the field, leadership-wise,” Story said of Bregman. “All of it. He’s a special player and a special mind. Obviously, very sought-after. He helped us get to where we are today and hopefully, we can help him for a long time.
“It’s huge. A guy who has been in the postseason nine years in a row. It’s important to have experienced guys, especially in the postseason, and he’s obviously a huge part of this team. I think he’s a huge priority.”