Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story on good friend Nolan Arenado: ‘He would thrive at Fenway Park’
Trevor Story and Nolan Arenado played five seasons together while with the Rockies, anchoring down the left side of the field in Colorado.
Even though the Red Sox have Rafael Devers at the hot corner, Story would like to see his former teammate and close friend hitting in the middle of Boston’s lineup next season.
“Everyone knows that we’re pretty close,” said Story to reporters at Fenway Fest in Boston on Saturday. “Nolan’s one of my good friends. This is a unique opportunity. We talk about baseball a lot. I’ll keep those conversations between us, but we do have a really good third baseman in Raffy Devers, so that would be obviously up to someone else to figure out how it works. That’s not my job to talk about that. But obviously, the chance of that happening is exciting for everyone.
“I’ve played around him a lot. He’s as good as it gets. The intensity he brings is really beneficial. He would thrive at Fenway.”
Arenado has been the subject of trade talks all offseason, with the Cardinals actively trying to move the All-Star third baseman. The veteran has a no-trade clause that reportedly he’s willing to waive to come to the Red Sox.
If Boston were to add Arenado, he would give the club the right-handed bat they need with Tyler O’Neill leaving for the Orioles in free agency.
Story thinks that Areando would thrive in Boston and will get the ball in the year, something righties need to do with the Green Monster in left field.
“He knows for himself. He’s had a lot of success in Fenway,” said Story. “He’s told me that he loves coming through there and feeling the energy. Obviously, any right-hander that pulls the ball in the air is a great profile for Fenway, and that’s what he does with the best of them. So yeah, it’s as simple as that. (Hitting) the ball in the air plays well at Fenway.”
Red Sox manager Alex Cora and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow have said Devers is the team’s third baseman, and Story respects and understands that but knows Arenado would love Boston.
“Raffy’s the face,” said Story. “He’s our best player. I think it’s as simple as that. We always want good players. Nolan has made it known that Boston is a place he’d love to be. That’s not any of the players here saying, ‘We’d rather have this guy; we’d rather have that guy.’ Raffy’s the guy. This is his team. It’ll always be his team. I think that’s something to make clear.
“(But) if Hall of Fame players are reaching to want to be on your team, that’s something that you have to entertain a little bit.”
