How Red Sox $23.3 million All-Star shortstop has been a 'non-factor' in 2026

The Boston Red Sox have been without their starting shortstop for the majority of the season. 

The AL East club has managed to get by with a solid 86-game stint from Andruw Monasterio, as the 29-year-old has posted a .755 OPS. 

Boston's starter, two-time All-Star Trevor Story, has been out since May with a sports hernia. 

Story played in just 41 games before the injury, and he will fail to appear in over 100 games for the fourth time in five seasons with the Red Sox. 

Injuries have kept Story sidelined for most of his tenure in Boston. That's why Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter tabbed him as one of the most overpaid players in baseball. 

Trevor Story is overpaid by Red Sox 

"After playing 163 games during his first three years in Boston, Trevor Story put together a shocking bounce-back season last year when he had a 25-homer, 31-steal, 4.1-WAR season and played 157 games," Reuter wrote. 

The Red Sox were hoping for another strong season from Story. But even when he was healthy, the 33-year-old did more harm than good, managing a -0.1 bWAR. 

"That performance made him a candidate to opt-out of the final two years and $55 million of his contract, but he chose to return," Reuter added. "A sports hernia has kept him sidelined since May, but before hitting the injured list his 32.4 percent strikeout rate and .206 average made him a non-factor." 

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Story was one of the top shortstops in the Majors during his time with the Colorado Rockies, posting three seasons with an OPS above .900 while being a 30-homer threat. 

But he's earning nearly $24 million in 2026 -- a lot of money to pay one player who hasn't managed to stay on the field. 

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