Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story revealed that he will be taking part in the Home Run Derby, as part of the All-Star Game festivities.
The hometown boy is in ✅
Trevor Story announces he will participate in the Home Run Derby.
🎥 @Tstory2pic.twitter.com/WmhJ8ni4Av
— The Athletic MLB (@TheAthleticMLB) June 28, 2021
The Home Run Derby will take place on July 12 at Coors Field, which happens to be Story’s home park.
However, there is a chance that it will be Story’s last Derby in a Rockies uniform.
With an expiring contract and the Rockies going nowhere, the team can consider trade offers for their star shortstop.
These three teams could be interested in Story, and could potentially complete a deal before the Home Run Derby.
3. Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a contending team, so while Story may be pricey for their standards, he would be a rental for them.
Story has a base salary of $17.5 million in 2021, but the luxury tax hit is $13.75 million.
Their offense sure can use another stellar hitter and Story, who is hitting .255 with nine homers and a 771 OPS, is a very good offensive player at a premium position.
That production is actually a bit off his usual standards, as he has a career .867 OPS.
Elvis Andrus was brought this offseason to take over at shortstop for the A’s, but he hasn’t been the answer.
The A’s shortstops have a 51 wRC+, or weighted Runs Created Plus, on the season.
The wRC+ stat allows us to determine if an offense is above or below average, with the ‘average’ being 100.
Oakland’s wRC+ means that they have produced 49 percent less than the average.
They are the only team whose shortstop doesn’t have a home run.
2. Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are currently 39-38, but they are still relatively close to the division leader, the Milwaukee Brewers, at six games back.
They can get back to contention with a hot streak, and they have the means to do it.
They have Jesse Winker and Nick Castellanos, and they have Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray, and Tyler Mahle on the pitching side of things.
They have other interesting pieces, but they lack a capable shortstop.
The Reds’ shortstops have a 68 wRC+, the third-worst mark in MLB.
It’s clear that they can benefit from adding an elite shortstop like Story, but are they willing to pay the price?
Story would not only lengthen the Reds’ lineup, but would also provide very good defense to help their groundball-heavy staff, namely Castillo.
1. New York Yankees
Gleyber Torres’ power has evaporated, and his defense was never great.
It’s unlikely the Yankees decide to move on from a guy that hit 38 home runs as recently as two years ago, but he hasn’t shown anything in 2020 and 2021.
The Yankees’ primary problem won’t be parting with prospects to complete a trade: it will be deciding do go past the luxury tax threshold.
Their offense has surprisingly struggled in 2021, so adding Story makes sense from a performance standpoint.
I asked the same executive about the shortstop market and if the Yankees will be involved. “DJ and Story are good friends. I don’t know how the Yankees feel about Story necessarily, but I know he likes the Yankees. If they’re willing to pay (BIG IF!) I can see that happening.”
— Dan Federico (@DanJFederico) April 8, 2021
But the fact that Story would be a rental will also complicate things for the Yankees, who haven’t been bringing them in regularly the last few seasons.
They should strongly consider Story, though, given that they have gotten the fifth-worst production from the shortstop position so far, with an 80 wRC+.
NEXT: What Happened To Dante Bichette? (Complete Story)