SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — When Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said earlier this week that the tinkering with the lineup was likely done, he made sure to leave the door open in case an appealing option still presented itself. That ended up happening, but on Sunday, another potential addition came off the board.
Former Colorado Rockies star Trevor Story has reportedly agreed to a six-year, $140 million contract with the Boston Red Sox. The deal, first reported by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, takes the final marquee right-handed bat off the market.
The Giants did have interest in Story, per sources, and were said to have recruited him pretty hard. Even new addition Joc Pederson got into the mix, telling Story on Instagram that he should come to San Francisco. Some Giants always believed Story was headed for Boston, though.
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The Red Sox can offer Story the chance to return to shortstop next year if Xander Bogaerts departs in free agency, but for now, he figures to slide in at second base and take aim at the Green Monster. That should help with one concern some Giants people had with Story; he has a career .752 OPS away from Coors Field.
Still, Story could have fit the Giants well. They are short on infield depth with Donovan Solano now in Cincinnati and Tommy La Stella finishing the rehab from Achilles surgery, and Story would have been their starting second baseman. He also could have soaked up starts at short and third, and he demolishes left-handed pitching, a need with Buster Posey and Kris Bryant gone.
The Giants believe they’re in better shape there than outsiders think, with Darin Ruf slated for more playing time and Evan Longoria back to full health. Joey Bart is off to a good start at camp, too.
Their key could be Thairo Estrada, who flashed in the second half last season and is headed for a significant role at second base and backing up other spots. Mauricio Dubon also has a chance to make the roster.
San Francisco Giants
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Story joined right-handed-hitters Carlos Correa, Nick Castellanos and Jorge Soler in finding new homes this weekend. The best free-agent bat left on the market is Michael Conforto, but the Giants filled that spot with Pederson.