The Trevor Story era with the Colorado Rockies is coming to an end one way or another after this season, and plenty of teams are interested in his services before this month's MLB trade deadline.
But what's the best fit?
Story is currently having one of his worst years at the plate, hitting .243/.316/.423 with 11 home runs, 18 doubles and 43 RBI. His 84 wRC+ is also much lower than what he's posted over the past three seasons especially, when he averaged a 122 wRC+. Even with his down season, Story remains one of the best offensive shortstops in the game.
He might also be nothing more than a pure rental for a team, as Story is a free agent after this season. Since he's a shortstop, teams with the money to spend are going to be drooling over him and one would assume Story is going to command a huge contract. Maybe not Francisco Lindor money, but still huge. Thirty home runs a year, even out in Colorado, will do that.
Assuming the Rockies don't hang on to Story and give him a qualifying offer after the season that he will most certainly reject, where could he be going at the trade deadline?
Trevor Story Trade Destination #5: Seattle Mariners
I so badly wanted to put the San Francisco Giants here, what with their incredible record and Brandon Crawford's recent injury (the dreaded oblique strain), but there's something in my brain that keeps me from proposing in-division trades like these, even though the Giants and Rockies have dealt to each other in the past.
But I'm a big coward, so it's the Seattle Mariners instead, who are in contention for the AL Wild Card and are in desperate need of offensive help anywhere they can get it. J.P. Crawford is a Gold Glove shortstop currently enjoying a breakout campaign, but the Mariners are the worst offensive team in the Majors, so it only makes sense they'd at least kick the tires on this possible trade.
Trevor Story Trade Destination #4: Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies love to be in the mix on seemingly everyone, but this deal does make sense if Philadelphia is sensing blood in the water in the NL East. Francisco Lindor is dealing with an oblique injury and Jacob deGrom currently has a forearm injury. The Phillies are only a handful of games behind in the division – if they really think they can take advantage of the moment and catch the Mets, it's not hard to see Philadelphia trading for Trevor Story.
Didi Gregorious, the Phillies' current shortstop, spent nearly two months on the injured list with an injured right elbow, and he's hit .190/.277/.483 since his return in early July. It's hard to fault the guy after a two-month layoff, but the Phillies don't have the luxury of waiting for him to come around – at least not this season. Gregorious is signed through next year, making $15.25 million in 2022, so it's unlikely a long-term deal with Story would happen here, as much as the Phillies like to spend money.
Trevor Story Trade Destination#3: New York Mets
If it wasn't for Francisco Lindor's worrisome oblique injury, this type of deal would really make no sense. But oblique injuries are notorious for their recovery times and the Mets are in full-on win-now mode. Unless New York was willing to force Lindor or Story to play a new position in 2022, a long-term contract isn't happening here, but it's easy to see the Mets rolling the dice and acquiring Story at the MLB trade deadline for a run at the team's first postseason appearance in five years.
Trevor Story Trade Destination #2: Oakland Athletics
Oakland has to get over the hump one of these years… right? Right? Story truly is a perfect fit for Oakland because shortstop is one of their biggest lineup deficiencies (Elvis Andrus is hitting just .233/.274/.314 with two homers and a 65 wRC+). But aside from that, the Athletics are truly built for a deep run in the postseason. Their team wRC+ of 102 is seventh in the American League and their team ERA of 3.69 is the fourth-lowest in the AL. Once again, the Athletics are right in the mix, and a trade for Story could be the move to finally put them over the top.
The added incentive here for the A's is to avoid the AL Wild Card game if at all possible. They are still in a fight for the AL West with the Houston Astros, only 2.5 games out as of this writing, and it's obviously far better to start the postseason in the ALDS than in a one-game playoff with a team like the Tampa Bay Rays or Boston Red Sox.
Trevor Story Trade Destination #1: New York Yankees
You knew this had to be the case, right? It all makes sense for the Yankees here – Story would provide an instant jolt to a surprisingly stagnant offense and, as we all know, the Yankees would be the perfect suitors for signing Story beyond 2021. In this scenario, Gleyber Torres could shift over to second base and Rougned Odor would, well… at least the Rangers are paying that salary. But the Yankees really are the perfect fit for a Story trade this year and for signing him to a long-term deal in the offseason. There are going to be a number of teams inquiring about Story's services, but it would ultimately be a surprise to see him land somewhere besides the Bronx.
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