Tag: rockies

Who did Red Sox acquire from Rockies for Brennan Bernardino?

As part of a flurry of roster moves on Tuesday, the Red Sox acquired three minor leaguers in three separate trades with the White Sox, Rockies, and Mariners.

This article will focus on Boston acquiring 26-year-old infield/outfielder Braiden Ward from Colorado for left-hander Brennan Bernardino.

Ward, who turns 27 in January, spent the first five seasons of his professional career in the Rockies organization after originally being selected in the 16th round of the 2021 draft out of the University of Washington. The California native received a $125,000 signing bonus and made his professional debut in the Arizona Complex League that August.

From there, Ward steadily climbed Colorado’s organizational ladder without ever being viewed as a top prospect. The left-handed hitting speedster opened the 2025 campaign at Double-A Hartford, batting .259/.360/.330 with 10 doubles, one home run, 16 RBIs, 29 runs scored, 22 stolen bases, 19 walks, and 38 strikeouts in 53 games (205 plate appearances) before receiving a promotion to Triple-A Albuquerque in early July. He then slashed .331/.440/.466 with seven doubles, four triples, one home run, 21 RBIs, 45 runs scored, 35 stolen bases, 16 walks, and 23 strikeouts over 44 games (163 plate appearances) in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Altogether, Ward batted .290/.395/.391 with 17 doubles, four triples, two home runs, 37 RBIs, 74 runs scored, an organizational-leading 57 stolen bases, 35 walks, and 61 strikeouts across 97 total games (368 plate appearances) between Double-A and Triple-A this year. That includes a .353/.421/.373 line against lefties and a .277/.390/.395 line against righties.

On the other side of the ball, Ward saw playing time at four different positions between his stops in Hartford and Albuquerque this season. The versatile 5-foot-9, 160-pounder logged 359 2/3 innings in center field, 302 innings in left field, 52 innings at second base, and 22 innings at third base. He also made one start at DH and has prior experience in right field.

Assuming he does not get taken in December’s Rule 5 Draft, Ward figures to provide the Red Sox with important upper-minors depth at Triple-A Worcester to open the 2026 season. It would not be at all surprising if he were called up for his big league debut at some point next year, given his speed and ability to play multiple positions.

(Picture of Brennan Bernardino: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Former Red Sox pitching prospect Connor Seabold signs with KBO’s Samsung Lions

For the second time this week, a former Red Sox pitcher elected to take his talents overseas for the 2024 season by signing with a team in the Korea Baseball Organization.

Just days after left-hander Kyle Hart joined the NC Dinos, the Samsung Lions announced on Friday that they signed right-hander Connor Seabold to a one-year contract. The deal comes with $900,000 in guaranteed money and an additional $100,000 in possible incentives.

Seabold, who turns 28 next month, spent the better part of four seasons in the Red Sox organization after coming over from the Phillies alongside fellow righty Nick Pivetta in the August 2020 trade that sent relievers Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree back to Philadelphia.

Added to the 40-man roster later that year, Seabold was regarded as one of Boston’s top pitching prospects and rotational depth options entering the 2021 season. The former third-round draft selection out of Cal State Fullerton debuted for the Red Sox that September, allowing two runs over three innings as part of a 9-8 win over the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Seabold did not see any additional big-league action again until last June. He made three starts into the early summer before being sidelined with a right forearm extensor strain and optioned to Triple-A Worcester upon activation from the 15-day injured list in late July. He returned to the Red Sox’ rotation nearly two months later and surrendered nine runs (eight earned) in his final two outings (seven innings) of the year.

Carrying with him a 10.55 ERA in 21 1/3 innings in the majors, Seabold was designated for assignment by the Red Sox in January to accommodate the addition of veteran starter Corey Kluber. Five days after being removed from Boston’s 40-man roster, Seabold was traded to the Rockies for cash considerations.

In 27 appearances (13 starts) for Colorado this past season, Seabold struggled to a 7.52 ERA and 5.75 FIP with 67 strikeouts to 28 walks over 87 1/3 innings. Interestingly enough, one of his better performances of the year came against the Red Sox on June 12, when he struck out a season-high of six and walked only one across six frames of one-run ball at Fenway Park.

Ahead of the Rule 5 Draft earlier this month, the Rockies released Seabold to clear a spot on their 40-man roster for right-hander Anthony Molina, whom they plucked from the Rays. It remains to be seen if Seabold had drawn interest on the open market from other big-league clubs in the weeks since he was cut loose by Colorado, but the California native ultimately opted to go abroad to South Korea.

All told, Seabold owns a lifetime 8.12 ERA (5.96 FIP) with 86 strikeouts to 38 walks in 33 total appearances (19 starts) spanning 108 2/3 innings for his career at the major-league level. At the Triple-A level, he has produced a far more respectable 4.13 ERA with 177 strikeouts to 46 walks over 38 starts (172 inning) from 2021-2023.

Though a myriad of elbow and forearm injuries have all but hindered the likelihood of him being as a frontline starter in the big-leagues, Seabold could very well leverage his performance overseas into another opportunity with an MLB team at some point down the line.

In the more immediate future, Seabold joins infielder David MacKinnon as two of the three foreign players the Lions — and all KBO teams — are allowed to carry on their respective rosters. According to Jee-ho Yoo of South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, the Daegu-based club is in talks to bring back righty David Buchanan, which would round out their foreign-born contingent heading into the 2024 season.

(Picture of Connor Seabold: Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Red Sox sign former Rockies pitching prospect Helcris Olivarez to minor-league deal

The Red Sox have signed former Rockies pitching prospect Helcris Olivarez to a minor-league contract, per the club’s transactions log. The deal comes with an invitation to major-league spring training, according to Ari Alexander of Houston’s KPRC 2.

Olivarez, 23, spent the first seven-plus years of his professional career in the Rockies organization after originally signing with the club for $77,000 as an international free agent coming out of the Dominican Republic in August 2016. The left-hander debuted in the Dominican Summer League the following June and spent parts of three seasons in rookie ball through the end of 2019.

While the 2020 minor-league season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Olivarez impressed at Colorado’s alternate training site and fall instructional league. The Rockies then added the lefty to their 40-man roster that November in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.

Olivarez came into the 2021 campaign ranked by Baseball America as the No. 11 prospect in Colorado’s farm system. But he struggled in his first taste of full-season ball, posting a 6.05 ERA (5.71 FIP) with 112 strikeouts to 68 walks in 22 appearances (21 starts) spanning 99 2/3 innings of work for High-A Spokane. As such, he fell four spots to No. 15 in the system entering 2022.

At that time, Baseball America described Olivarez’s raw stuff as “electric,” noting that the 6-foot-2, 192-pounder “has easy fastball velocity up to 100 mph and usually sits in the high 90s. But his command is questionable and his off-speed pitches need honing, with an average changeup and a curveball that can be flat. Cleaning up and simplifying his delivery will help him achieve the release-point consistency needed to become a bona fide starter. He already creates uncomfortable at-bats from either side, but to complement his plus heat, Olivarez needs to keep a better lid on his emotions on the mound.”

Unfortunately, Olivarez ran into injury troubles last year. He opened the season on Double-A Albuquerque’s injured list and was then transferred to the Rockies’ 60-day injured list with a left shoulder strain in late May. After making one two-inning rehab start for Colorado’s Arizona Complex League affiliate in mid-July, Olivarez was ultimately shut down and later underwent major shoulder capsule surgery.

The Rockies waived and outrighted Olivarez off their 40-man roster right around this time a year ago. He remained in the organization but did not pitch in any organized games this past season. As noted by MLB.com’s Thomas Harding, though, Olivarez returned to action this fall by pitching in a couple of instructional league games and impressed while flashing 93-96 mph with his fastball.

Olivarez, who does not turn 24 until next August, provides the pitching-needy Red Sox with an intriguing left-handed arm who was once viewed as a standout prospect. It remains to be seen if the club views Olivarez as a starter or reliever moving forward, but the southpaw nonetheless possesses tantalizing stuff and — if healthy — could make his impact felt at the big-league level next season.

(Picture of Helcris Olivarez: Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Costly errors come back to bite Red Sox in rain-soaked 4-3 loss to Rockies

The Red Sox opened a three-game series against the Rockies in disappointing fashion on Monday night. Boston fell to Colorado by a final score of 4-3 in a rain-filled 10 innings at Fenway Park to drop below .500 on the season at 33-34.

With old friend Connor Seabold starting for the Rockies, the Red Sox had a golden opportunity to strike first in the first inning. Jarren Duran, Alex Verdugo, and Justin Turner led off the bottom half of the frame with three consecutive singles to fill the bases with no outs.

Though it already appeared as if they had Seabold on the ropes, the Red Sox got nothing out of it. Rafael Devers grounded into a 1-2-3 double play chasing a first-pitch changeup and tapping a comebacker back to Seabold, who then fanned Adam Duvall on five pitches to escape the jam unscathed.

Seabold continued to put up zeroes from there, as did his counterpart in James Paxton. Making his sixth start of the season for the Sox, Paxton allowed just one unearned run on four hits and one walk to go along with eight strikeouts over six-plus strong innings of work.

After giving up a leadoff double to the very first batter he faced in Jurickson Profar, Paxton settled into a nice groove. The veteran left-hander stranded Profar at third base and then retired seven straight Rockies before yielding a one-out double to Ryan McMahon in the top of the fourth.

With two outs in the inning, it seemed like Paxton was going to strand another runner in scoring position when he got Randal Grichuk to hit a routine grounder to shortstop Enrique Hernandez. Hernandez, however, bounced his throw to first and the ball got past Triston Casas, which allowed McMahon to score all the way from second to put the Rockies up, 1-0.

For Hernandez, it was his major-league-leading 14th error of the season, with 12 of those coming on throws. Paxton proved to be unaffected by the sloppy play, however, as that was the only run he surrendered in yet another impressive performance.

Finishing with 98 pitches (70 strikes), Paxton induced 16 swings-and-misses while mixing in a 94-98 mph four-seam fastball as well as a curveball, cutter, and changeup. The 34-year-old southpaw did not factor into Monday’s decision, though he did lower his ERA on the season to 3.09.

With Paxton’s night done, the Boston bats finally got to Seabold in the latter half of the sixth. After drawing a one-out walk, Verdugo came in to score all the way from first on a hard-hit, RBI double off the bat of Turner to knot the score at 1-1. Despite having a runner in scoring position with only one out in the inning, both Devers (strikeout) and Duvall (groundout) were retired to extinguish the threat.

Following a scoreless top of the seventh from Josh Winckowski, Christian Arroyo quickly untied the contest by taking lefty reliever Brent Suter 376 feet over the Green Monster for his second home run of the season. The Red Sox took a 2-1 lead on Arroyo’s solo shot, but the Rockies responded in the eighth by tagging Winckowski for a crucial run when Profar ripped a one-out double and — after a two-out walk — scored from second on a game-tying single from Elias Diaz.

The two sides were deadlocked at 2-2 going into the bottom of the eighth. Turner drew a two-out walk off Pierce Johnson to put the go-ahead run on base for Devers, who promptly laced a 105.8 mph line drive that appeared to be headed towards the Red Sox bullpen. But Rockies right fielder Nolan Jones made a sensational leaping catch against the fence to rob Devers of a potential two-run homer.

According to Baseball Savant, Devers’ blast had an expected batting average of .870 and would have been a home run in seven of 30 MLB ballparks, including Fenway Park had Jones not robbed him. Alas, that is what happened and the score remained tied heading into the ninth. Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless top half, and Daniel Bard — making his first-ever appearance at Fenway as a visiting pitcher — followed suit in the bottom half to send this one into extras.

Nick Pivetta came on for the 10th and recorded two quick outs before intentionally walking McMahaon to put runners at first and second. He then unintentionally walked Diaz to fill the bases and issued a five-pitch free pass to Grichuk, allowing the automatic runner (Mike Moustakas) to score.

That sequence of events prompted Red Sox manager Alex Cora to pull Pivetta in favor of lefty Joe Jacques, who was making his big-league debut. Jacques, in turn, induced what had the makings to be an inning-ending groundout to Jones. But Casas could not field the ball cleanly and was late with his throw to first. As a result, Jones reached base safely while McMahon scored an important insurance run on Casas’ fielding error.

At that point, the skies above Fenway began to open and an 89-minute rain delay commenced. On the other side of the lengthy break, the Red Sox got one of those runs back when Connor Wong scored on a Rob Refsnyder groundout. That was as close as they would get, though, as Verdugo grounded into a game-ending, 5-6-3 double play.

Next up: Crawford vs. Anderson

The Red Sox will look to even the series against the Rockies on Tuesday night. Kutter Crawford is slated to get the start for Boston while Colorado will counter with fellow righty Chase Anderson.

First pitch from Fenway Park is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. eastern time on NESN.

(Picture of Triston Casas: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Former Red Sox catcher Jorge Alfaro signs minor-league deal with Rockies

Exactly one week after being granted his release from the Red Sox organization, veteran catcher Jorge Alfaro has found a new home.

Alfaro signed a minor-league contract with the Rockies on Saturday, per the club’s transactions log. The soon-to-be 30-year-old backstop (his birthday is on Sunday) has been assigned to Colorado’s Triple-A affiliate in Albuquerque, N.M. and is in the Isotopes’ starting lineup for their game against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys.

Alfaro originally inked a minors pact with the Red Sox in January but did not make Boston’s Opening Day roster out of spring training. The right-handed hitter instead began the season with Triple-A Worcester, batting a stout .320/.366/.520 with 13 doubles, two triples, six home runs, 30 RBIs, 22 runs scored, four stolen bases, nine walks, and 43 strikeouts in 43 games (191 plate appearances) for the WooSox.

Despite the strong offensive performance, there were and still are some concerns when it comes to Alfaro’s defense at catcher. The 6-foot-2, 249-foot backstop logged 225 1/3 innings behind the plate for Worcester, allowing six passed balls and throwing out just five of 35 would-be base stealers. He also made two starts at first base, but was not an apparent fit at the position for Boston.

Because the Red Sox expressed confidence in their current catching tandem of Connor Wong and Reese McGuire, Alfaro triggered the opt-out clause in his contract last Thursday. As previously mentioned, it did not take the native Colombian all that long to find a new landing spot.

With the Rockies, Alfaro will look to break back in at the big-league level after spending the 2022 season with the Padres. Colorado currently carries two catchers (Elias Diaz and Austin Wynns) on its 26-man roster and three additional catchers (Daniel Cope, Jonathan Morales, and Brian Serven) on its Triple-A roster.

The Red Sox, meanwhile, already addressed Alfaro’s departure from the organization by promoting catching prospect Stephen Scott to Worcester on Friday. Scott joins Caleb Hamilton and Ronaldo Hernandez in making up Boston’s catching depth at the top flight of the minors.

(Picture of Jorge Alfaro: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Former Red Sox minor-leaguer Jake MacKenzie signs with Rockies

Former Red Sox minor-leaguer Jake MacKenzie is back in affiliated baseball. More specifically, the New York Boulders of the independent Frontier League sold MacKenzie’s contract to the Colorado Rockies on Thursday, per the league’s transactions log.

MacKenzie, 23, began his professional career with the Red Sox after signing with the club as an undrafted free agent coming out of Fordham in June 2020. Known for his speed, the right-handed hitter split the 2021 season between Low-A Salem and High-A Greenville, batting .245/.360/.340 with six doubles, one triple, two home runs, seven RBIs, 26 runs scored, four stolen bases, 20 walks, and 36 strikeouts over 54 total games.

The Red Sox released MacKenzie from his contract last March, making him a free agent yet again. The Connecticut native then latched on with the Boulders in May and put forth a productive year in the Frontier League by slashing .302/.399/.492 with 25 doubles, two triples, 14 home runs, 65 runs driven in, 92 runs scored, 35 stolen bases, 46 walks, and 64 strikeouts in 92 games (434 plate appearances). Among league leaders, he ranked second in both runs scored and stolen bases.

The Boulders named MacKenzie the recipient of their 2022 Johnny Thompson Unsung Hero Award in September and exercised his contract option for the 2023 season in December. At that time, MacKenzie was abroad, playing for the Canberra Cavalry of the Australian Baseball League. He slashed .248/.398/.357 with a league-leading 16 stolen bases in 37 games and earned ABL All-Star honors as a result.

On the heels of an eventful winter, MacKenzie — who turns 24 in May — will now look to make a solid first impression as a member of the Rockies organization. In addition to his plus speed and strong baserunning instincts, the versatile 5-foot-10, 195-pounder is capable of playing second base, third base, shortstop, and a little bit of outfield as well.

At this point in time, it is not yet known which of Colorado’s minor-league affiliates MacKenzie will be assigned to. That said, it would not be surprising if he winds up spending some time at the Rockies’ complex in Scottsdale, Ariz. for extended spring training before receiving that assignment.

(Picture of Jake MacKenzie: Gwinn Davis/Greenville Drive)

Red Sox trade Connor Seabold to Rockies for a player to be named later or cash considerations

The Red Sox have traded right-hander Connor Seabold to the Rockies in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations, the club announced earlier Tuesday afternoon.

Seabold, 26, was designated for assignment last Thursday so that the Red Sox could clear a spot on their 40-man roster for newly-signed veteran starter Corey Kluber.

Boston originally acquired Seabold from the Phillies alongside fellow righty Nick Pivetta in the August 2020 trade that sent relievers Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree to Philadelphia. The California native had been regarded as one of the better pitching prospects in the Red Sox farm system and had served as upper-minors rotation depth for the better part of the last two seasons.

In 11 starts for Triple-A Worcester in 2021, Seabold posted a 3.50 ERA with 52 strikeouts to 19 walks over 54 innings of work. He followed that up by forging a 3.32 ERA with 89 punchouts to 19 walks across 19 starts (86 2/3 innings) for the WooSox in 2022.

Unfortunately, the success Seabold has enjoyed at the Triple-A level has yet to carry over to the major-leagues. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound hurler lasted just three innings in his big-league debut against the White Sox in September 2021 and then allowed a total of 23 earned runs in 18 1/3 frames (11.29 ERA in five starts) for the Red Sox last year.

All told, Seabold owns a lifetime 10.55 ERA and 6.82 FIP in six career major-league outings (21 1/3 innings). He has, however, been marred by injuries (right elbow inflammation, pectoral strain, right forearm extensor strain) in each of the last two seasons, which has likely played a role in his four-seam fastball hovering in the low-90s in the majors as opposed to the mid-90s when he was a member of the Phillies organization.

With the addition of Kluber, the Red Sox have further bolstered a starting rotation mix that already includes Pivetta, Chris Sale, Garrett Whitlock, Brayan Bello, Jamex Paxton, and Tanner Houck. While those seven will likely be contending for spots in Boston’s Opening Day rotation, the likes of Josh Winckowski, Kutter Crawford, Bryan Mata, Chris Murphy, and Brandon Walter will presumably start the year at Triple-A, meaning Seabold only became more expandable.

Seabold, who turns 27 later this month, will now look to capitalize on a new opportunity with the Rockies. He still has one minor-league option remaining, so Colorado would be able to send Seabold to the minors without first exposing him to waivers.

Regardless of how he fares with the Rockies, though, Seabold becomes the latest member of the 2022 Red Sox to be lopped off the 40-man roster this winter and join a new organization after the fact. Most notably, Eduard Bazardo, Franchy Cordero, and Darwinzon Hernandez have all ended up with the Orioles while Tyler Danish signed a minor-league deal with the Yankees. Jeter Downs was claimed off waivers by the Nationals and Eric Hosmer has inked a one-year contract with the Cubs.

(Picture of Connor Seabold: Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

Red Sox make Trevor Story signing official, designate Jeisson Rosario for assignment

The Red Sox have officially signed free-agent infielder Trevor Story to a six-year contract, the club announced on Wednesday morning. In order to make room for Story on the 40-man roster, outfielder Jeisson Rosario was designated for assignment.

Story, 29, was among this winter’s top free agents after spending the first six years of his major-league career with the Rockies. Although he was a shortstop throughout his time in Colorado, the two-time All-Star will shift to second base with Boston in order to accommodate Xander Bogaerts.

According to The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier, Story will earn $20 million in 2022 and 2023, $22.5 million in 2024 and 2025, and $25 million in 2026 and 2027. There is also a $25 million club option in 2028 that includes a $5 million buyout. He has the ability to opt out of the deal after the 2025 season, but the Red Sox could then exercise an option to retain him through his option year and pay him $25 million per season from 2026 to 2028.

All told, Story is guaranteed to earn at least $140 million and at most $160 million through 2028 if the option is picked up. As noted by MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, it is the largest deal the Red Sox have given out since they signed left-hander David Price to seven-year, $217 million contract in December 2015.

Originally selected by the Rockies in the first round of the 2011 draft out of Irving High School, Story broke in with Colorado in 2016 and has since hit 158 home runs in 745 big-league contests.

A two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, the right-handed hitting Story batted .251/.329/.471 with 34 doubles, five triples, 24 homers, 75 RBIs, 88 runs scored, 20 stolen bases, 53 walks, and 139 strikeouts across 142 games (595 plate appearances) for the Rockies last season.

Story, who will wear the No. 10 with the Red Sox, only took the field as a shortstop in his time with Colorado but will make the transition to second base with Boston. The 6-foot-2, 213 pounder represents an upgrade there and could also take over at shortstop next year in the event that Bogaerts opts out of his deal and signs elsewhere at the conclusion of the 2022 campaign.

Rosario, 22, was one of two prospects the Red Sox acquired from the Padres in the August 2020 trade that sent veteran first baseman Mitch Moreland to San Diego. The other player Boston got in that deal was Hudson Potts, who was designated for assignment on Tuesday.

Coming into the 2021 season, Rosario was regarded by Baseball America as No. 21 prospect in Boston’s farm system. The speedy outfielder spent the entirety of the year with Double-A Portland and struggled to the tune of a .232/.335/.307 slash line to go along with 15 doubles, one triple, three home runs, 36 RBIs, 48 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, 50 walks, and 113 strikeouts over 98 games (405 plate appearances) for the Sea Dogs.

As was the case with Potts, the Red Sox now have the next seven days to either trade, release, or waive Rosario. If he clears waivers, the club can retain him as a non-40-man roster player.

(Picture of Trevor Story: Boston Red Sox)

Red Sox agree to six-year, $140 million deal with Trevor Story, per report

It is Story time in Boston. The Red Sox have reached an agreement on a multi-year deal with free-agent infielder Trevor Story, as was first reported by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.

According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, it’s a six-year contract worth at least $140 million. The New York Post’s Joel Sherman adds that Story has the ability to opt out of the deal after the fourth year, but the Red Sox can negate that by picking up a seventh-year option for $20 million. That would take the total value of the deal up to $160 million over seven years.

Story, 29, is expected to become the Sox’ everyday second baseman despite appearing exclusively as a shortstop in his six seasons with the Rockies. Xander Bogaerts, who can opt out of his contract after the 2022 season, will remain at shortstop for Boston.

In agreeing to such a deal with Story, the Red Sox have finally made a big splash in free agency this off-season. Since Chaim Bloom took over as Boston’s chief baseball officer in October 2019, the largest contract the Sox had given out was to Enrique Hernandez, who inked a two-year, $14 million deal with the club last winter.

Story’s deal will surpass Hernandez’s by at least 900%, if not more. He will also be under contract through the end of the 2025 season at the very earliest and through the end of the 2028 season at the latest.

A former first-round (45th overall) draft selection of the Rockies out of Irving High School in 2011, Story broke in with Colorado in 2016 and immediately established himself as a power threat from the right side of the plate by hitting 27 home runs his rookie season.

From the time he made his big-league debut in 2016, Story has hit a total of 158 home runs over 745 games in the process of being recognized as a two-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner who has finished in the top-12 of National League MVP voting on three separate occasions.

Most recently, the right-handed hitter slashed .251/.329/.471 with 34 doubles, five triples, 24 home runs, 75 RBIs, 88 runs scored, 20 stolen bases, 53 walks, and 139 strikeouts across 142 games (595 plate appearances) with the Rockies in 2021.

Colorado extended Story a qualifying offer in November, which the Excel Sports Management rejected to remain a free-agent. This means that the Red Sox now have to surrender their second-highest pick in this year’s draft while also having their international signing bonus pool reduced by $500,000.

In addition to the qualifying offer, the Rockies apparently offered Story more than the $140 million he received from the Red Sox, per MLB Network’s Jon Heyman. Story, though, chose Boston over Colorado for competitive reasons.

On that note, Story coming to Boston changes the team’s positional outlook drastically. Although all 6,304 2/3 defensive innings in the majors have come at shortstop, Story — as previously mentioned — will see the lion’s share of his playing time with the Red Sox come at second base.

With Story at second base, Christian Arroyo will likely shift into a utility role and may even see time in the outfield. Hernandez, on the other hand, will presumably see the majority of his defensive reps come in center field, as was the case last year.

Bogaerts, of course, has the ability to become a free-agent next winter if he chooses to opt out of the final three years of the six-year, $120 million contract extension he signed with Boston in April 2019. If Bogaerts elects to go that route and winds up with another team, the Red Sox would have a viable replacement at shortstop in the form of Story for 2023 and beyond.

Story, who does not turn 30 until November, is set to earn an average annual value of $23.33 million with the Sox — making him the highest-paid position player on the team and the second-highest player overall behind only left-hander Chris Sale ($25.6 million).

The Red Sox have yet to make the signing of Story official. Their 40-man roster is currently at full capacity, so they will need to create an opening there before doing so.

(Picture of Trevor Story: Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

Former Red Sox shortstop José Iglesias agrees to one-year deal with Rockies, per report

Former Red Sox shortstop Jose Iglesias has agreed to a one-year deal with the Colorado Rockies, according to Univision’s Mike Rodriguez.

Iglesias, 32, will earn $5 million with the Rockies in 2022 after spending the 2021 season with both the Angels and Red Sox. He was initially released by Los Angeles on September 3, thus allowing him to latch on with Boston just three days later

A former top prospect who originally signed with the Sox as an international free agent out of Cuba in 2009 and was dealt to the Tigers in July 2013, Iglesias returned to Boston’s lineup for the first time in over eight years last summer.

The Red Sox signed Iglesias as veteran infield depth as they were navigating their way through a COVID-19 outbreak. The right-handed hitter delivered and then some, batting a stout .356/.406/.509 with four doubles, one triple, one home run, seven RBIs, and eight runs over 23 games (64 plate appearances) while providing exceptional defense at second base to close out the regular season.

Because he was added to Boston’s major-league roster after the start of September, though, Iglesias was not eligible to play in the postseason. The Red Sox, in turn, outrighted the 5-foot-11, 195 pounder off their 40-man roster in early October, though he remained with the team as part of the “Uber Squad” during their run to the American League Championship Series.

Despite leaving a solid impression on Alex Cora and his teammates, Iglesias and the Red Sox never got close to a reunion at any point this off-season, per MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo.

As a result, Iglesias now joins his fifth organization since making his big-league debut in 2011. With the Rockies, his second National League team, Iglesias will look to reach 10 years of major-league service time.

(Picture of Jose Iglesias: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)