FORT MYERS, Fla. – Red Sox manager Alex Cora recruits free agent Trevor Story. So did Shortstop Xander Bogaerts. However, the Red Sox ‘efforts to reach the free agent midfielder, who signed a six-year $ 140 million deal, were also supported by a former member of the organization.
Former Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks – now an analyst for both NESN and CBS – has known the story for more than a decade, dating back to when the two worked in the offseason after the 2011 season (Story’s first professional season after appearing on the Rockies were taken with the number 45 overall pick) at the EXOS facility in Frisco, Texas. As the story went through the free agent process, Middlebrooks – who was drafted by the Red Sox in 2007 and played in the big leagues for the 2012-14 team – was not shy about offering a recruiting field.
“I’ve been selling it for days,” Middlebrooks said. “I put it down. I said, ‘Look, New York smells like dirt and they have rats the size of Shetland ponies. You do not want to go there. You do not want to go to California. The taxes are absurd. You will all. You’re losing your money there. In Houston they have hurricanes. The perfect place to go is Boston. ‘
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“I made him that joke. He got a kick out of it,” Middlebrooks said, explaining that he had no evil intentions toward the other cities. “But I told him quite honestly, I told him I played in five places. If you want the best experience in baseball as a player, you have to play as a home player at Fenway Park in front of the Red Sox Nation. There is nothing better than a Sunday night to play against the Yankees or play in the postseason.You can not beat it.
“I played other places. I went from a place like Boston to San Diego where at the time they did not care about baseball. And that was hard. How I missed the pressure to win. I missed the next day. a game going on the street to get breakfast and the guy who asked me why I swam in the 2-2 slate in the dirt. I missed that passion. And I explained it to him and just said, ‘. If you want the best experience, and you want to make some of the best memories you’ve ever had in your career, go play in Boston. ‘
History chose to do just that. Even though he was asked to change positions, moving from shortstop to second base to join Bogaerts for the 2022 season, he signed to join the Red Sox, for which he expects to add a combination of strength, strongly Up-the-middle defense (once) he adjusts to a new position), and speed.
The story’s six-year, $ 140 million deal will pay him $ 20 million in 2022 and 2023, $ 22.5 million in 2024 and 2025, and $ 25 million in 2026 and 2027. It includes a $ 25 million club option with a $ 5 million buyout for 2028.
The story has the right to close after the 2025 season. If he does, the Red Sox can retain their services by guaranteeing the option years – that is, $ 25 million in salaries in 2026, 2027, and 2028.
The story will be presented to the Red Sox at a news conference on Wednesday morning.
Alex Speier can be reached at alex.speier@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexspeier.
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