The calendar has flipped to September, which means two things in baseball: playoff races and rumor season. The Atlanta Braves are already being linked to a big-name player.
ESPN insider Buster Olney joined 680 The Fan this week and floated the possibility that the Atlanta Braves could pursue Trevor Story if the Red Sox shortstop hits the free agent market this winter.
Why Story Fits the Braves’ Wish List
Olney’s reasoning is simple: the Braves want an offensive upgrade at shortstop without sacrificing defense. And Story, at least on paper, checks both boxes.
This year in Boston, the two-time All-Star is putting together a solid campaign: .260 average, .744 OPS, 23 home runs, 86 RBIs, and 3.5 bWAR. That’s production Atlanta hasn’t gotten from the position lately. Compare that to Nick Allen, who brings Gold Glove-caliber defense but a bat that doesn’t exactly scare pitchers, and you can see why Olney thinks the Braves will be shopping.
The Ha-Seong Kim Factor
Atlanta just added Ha-Seong Kim, and he’s not here to be a bench piece. Kim debuted Tuesday night, went 2-for-4, and looks poised to get a real shot as the everyday shortstop. His player option for 2026 comes in at $16 million — significantly cheaper than what Story would command.
Story has an opt-out clause after this season, but if he stays in Boston, he’s guaranteed $25 million per year for the next two seasons, plus a club option worth the same for 2028. That means he’d only opt out if he thought he could beat $25 million annually on the open market. Olney himself suggested that a “reasonable” deal might be three years at $60–70 million, but that actually puts him below what he’d already earn by opting in.
So, unless Story believes he can land north of $25 million a year, the odds say he sticks in Boston.
What Makes Sense for Atlanta?
From the Braves’ perspective, Story is intriguing, sure. He’s a proven bat, still a good defender, and he’d be a flashy upgrade. But the numbers don’t quite add up. Kim at $16 million is better value than Story at $23–25 million, especially when Atlanta’s roster is already loaded with big contracts.
The only way this rumor really heats up is if Kim declines his option and tests the free agency market. If that happens, then yes, Story suddenly looks like a real candidate. But if Kim stays — and given his injury-plagued 2025, he probably will — this “what if” fizzles out quickly.
For now, it feels like one of those fun September rumors that gets Braves Country buzzing. But the reality? Trevor Story in Atlanta is great in theory — and highly unlikely in practice.
