Since the MLB-MLBPA lockout ended 10 days ago there has been a flurry of player movement and with it plenty of the stories. But perhaps the most interesting story is Trevor Story. Well, at least from the view of someone who resides in the Boston area.
This morning, Story signed a 6-year, $140 million contract with the Red Sox. Story, 29, has spent his entire 6-year big league career with the Colorado Rockies. He enters 2022 with a .272 lifetime batting average with 158 HR, 450 RBI and 100 stolen bases. Although Story has played shortstop his entire career, he will play second base in 2022 as Xander Bogaerts remains with the team. However, Bogaerts is expected to opt out of his contract at the end of the season and should he sign elsewhere in 2023 then Story would return to short. The only question is whether Story can handle the heightened scrutiny he will face in Boston.
It is mysterious why the Rockies weren't willing to extend Story (or for the matter Nolan Arenado) but willing to shell out $182 million over 7 years to Kris Bryant.
The other high profile free agent shortstop was Carlos Correa who to the shock of many signed a 3-year, $105.3 million deal with the Minnesota Twins. The former Astro does have opt out provisions after this season and in 2023 so his stay in the Land of 10,0000 Lakes might be short-lived. However, the Twins have made some other interesting additions such as acquiring starter Sonny Gray from the Cincinnati Reds as well as catcher Gary Sanchez and infielder Gio Urshela from the New York Yankees with Josh Donaldson going to the Bronx.
With Sanchez's struggles in the pinstripes, I think he is going to have a monster year in Minneapolis. Donaldson, on the other hand, is going to have to have an awkward conversation with Yankees ace Gerrit Cole amid accusations by Donaldson that Cole was doctoring the baseball. Meanwhile, the Yankees have held onto Anthony Rizzo at first base. But he's no Freddie Freeman, let alone a Matt Olson.
I am a bit puzzled as to why the Atlanta Braves were willing to pay Olson $168 million over 8 years but not willing to pay a former NL MVP in Freeman $162 million over 6 years - which is what the Los Angeles Dodgers will be paying Freeman. However, Olson is younger and is a Georgia native. The Braves might have lost Freeman to the Dodgers, but they do gain former Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen for at least one season.
Some other players who will be new uniforms in 2022. Former Oakland A's third baseman Matt Chapman will wear a Toronto Blue Jays uniform. Andrew McCutchen, late of the Philadelphia Phillies, will be the Milwaukee Brewers' new DH. The Phillies have added the bats of Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber. Andrelton Simmons and Jonathan Villar will toil for the Chicago Cubs. Atlanta Braves post-season hero Jorge Soler will play for the Miami Marlins.
Meanwhile, Zack Greinke will pitch in a Kansas City Royals uniform for the first time since 2010 as he is less than 200 strikeouts away from 3,000 for his career. Joining Greinke in K.C. is former Reds pitcher Amir Garrett. The Reds also dealt two sluggers in Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker to the Seattle Mariners. While the Mariners hope to end their 21-year post-seasom drought, the Reds have engaged in a full-scale fire sale.
There will be more baseball stories to come between now and Opening Day on April 7th and, of course, during the trade deadline at the end of July. But for now virtually all the big name free agents have a home for 2022. As for Trevor Story, he gets to begin a whole new chapter in Boston.
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