What Aggressive Red Sox Offseason Signals To Trevor Story

The Boston Red Sox started the offseason with rumors swirling about their involvement in the Juan Soto sweepstakes.

Once Soto agreed to a historic contract with the New York Mets, the Red Sox stayed active. More rumors of interest on certain players followed, but concrete moves featuring big names happened, too. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow sent a package of prospects to the Chicago White Sox for ace Garrett Crochet while also bolstering the bullpen and starting rotation by signing Aroldis Chapman and Walker Buehler, respectively.

The approach by Breslow and the front office was much different than in previous offseasons when the Red Sox were bargain shoppers. But after three straight seasons of missing the playoffs, including two years in which they finished in last place in the American League East, something had to change.

And Red Sox starting shortstop Trevor Story, who had yet to see this type of aggressiveness since he joined the organization, was more than happy to see it.

“In the offseason, especially this one, it’s felt like the Sox are in on everybody,” Story told NESN.com this week. “I feel like that’s the story of how it always has been, maybe not the last couple years. That’s what’s exciting, man, and that’s a big reason of why I chose to come to Boston, too, is play for the Boston Red Sox, the team that’s always going for it, the team that is always expecting a championship every year. That’s the standard. It feels like everything is aligned with that.”

Adding Crochet, Buehler and Chapman certainly upgraded Boston’s roster, especially its pitching staff. The Red Sox now have the frontline starter they needed while Buehler is a formidable arm with plenty of big-game experience.

But those moves did more than just give the Red Sox some good players. It bred confidence into the rest of the team that the 2025 season won’t be like the previous ones.

“I really feel like it sends a message to the team, to the players, to the coaches, when we show up, everyone really does feel like we have a real shot to win this thing,” Story said.