In an era where pitching depth and offensive firepower come at a premium, the names leading the salary table represent more than just figures. They’re investments in performance, leadership and the hope of pushing deeper into October.

But what these numbers also reveal is how the Red Sox are balancing risk and reward—whether locking in long-term deals or paying for proven production. The story behind the roster’s highest-paid players shows how Boston plans to compete this season.

Who are the highest-paid Red Sox players in 2026?

Money shapes expectations in Boston and the 2026 payroll makes that impossible to ignore. The front office has doubled down on star power and frontline pitching, committing significant resources to a handful of names expected to define the club’s direction this season.

According to Spotrac’s 2026 payroll data, left-hander Garrett Crochet leads the way at $28 million. After signing a long-term extension following his arrival in Boston, he enters the year positioned not just as the rotation’s anchor, but as the organization’s most expensive investment on the mound.

Veteran shortstop Trevor Story follows at $25 million, a figure tied to the multi-year deal he inked in free agency. His contract continues to loom large over the payroll conversation, especially as they look for stability and production.

These figures highlight more than just numbers: they outline Boston’s financial priorities. Pitching, veteran leadership and middle-of-the-order potential dominate the top of the ledger…

While several of the Red Sox‘s key bats have stumbled out of the gate, that has not been the case for Story, who is now hitting an impressive .321 with five home runs and 14 RBIs. On Friday night, he went 3-for-4 at the plate, including two home runs, six RBIs, and three runs scored—a performance that marked one of his most dominant outings in a Red Sox uniform.

When asked about the secret to his early-season surge, Story remained true to his trademark no-nonsense demeanor, offering a response that was as straightforward as his approach at the plate.

“Just focused on hitting the ball hard. That’s really it,” Story said after the game. “To me, it’s very simple, it’s very short, and obviously a good feeling when you feel like you hit the ball hard in the box.” That philosophy of keeping things simple appears to be working wonders for the 32-year-old, who is determined to establish himself as a central figure in Boston’s offensive resurgence.

Story leading a lineup looking to break free from early slump

Whether due to injuries, inconsistency, or a combination of both, Story’s first three seasons in Boston fell far short of expectations. However, after quietly reclaiming his role as the club’s everyday shortstop, he has quickly become a bright spot—especially as other key names such as Rafael Devers, Jarren Duran, and Triston Casas have struggled to find their rhythm.

What’s next for the Red Sox?

The Red Sox will aim to sustain their recent upswing after winning three of their last four games when they face Chicago again on Saturday afternoon. If Story’s resurgence continues, it could be the spark Boston needs to unlock its full offensive potential and stay competitive in the American League.

Thus far, Alex Cora’s team boasts a 10-19 record, losing five games in a row. Their offense has been dormant, to say the least, and it feels like they should be due for a major shakeup in the lineup.

Moreover, Trevor Story’s first year at Fenway Park has been nothing short of a nightmare. He’s batting .194 with a .276 OBP, .269 SLG, and .545 OPS. He’s struck out in 33% of his at-bats and has failed to homer across 105 plate appearances.

MLB News: Red Sox Won’t Move Story Down In The Lineup

The fans have already lost their patience with their second baseman. They booed him again after striking out three times in four at-bats on Sunday. However, Cora won’t consider moving him down in the lineup as a part of his upcoming adjustments:

“We’ll see where we’re at Tuesday,” Cora said. “We have to make adjustments. It’s an adjustment game. Probably I’ll shave Monday. It might be an adjustment. I don’t think hitting or anything is about shaving but hey, people are asking for that. No but, we have to work. Whatever lineup we have Tuesday is the lineup we’re going to have Tuesday and we have to be better.”

“If you start talking about certain guys, I don’t know,” the skipper added. “As an offense, we’re not doing too much. When he was hitting sixth or he’s leading off, we haven’t done much. We cannot look at one guy to get the offense going. And he knows he’s working. We know he’s going to be better. Right now it doesn’t look great but we trust the player.”

While some offensive regression was expected after leaving Coors Field, this has been way too much. Then again, Story is too good not to turn things around, but maybe being second in the lineup isn’t doing him any favors right now.

Eventually, the Boston Red Sox won his sweepstakes and paired him with Xander Bogaerts in the infield, moving him to second base. And, while he’s made the defensive adjustment with ease, his offense hasn’t followed him away from Coors Field.

26 games into the season, Story is hitting .210 with a .589 OPS. That’s far from what you’d want from a player who was signed to asix-year, $140 million contract to be one of the faces of the offense.

Trevor Story Says There’s A Lot Of New Things Going On

That’s why, after hitting rock bottom and getting struck out four times by Shohei Ohtani, fans at Fenway Park just couldn’t take it anymore. Story felt firsthand the wrath of the Green Monster, hearing boos left and right. Still, his confidence remains untouched:

“Just a lot of new overall,” Story said after the game. “In life, baseball, all of it. There’s just a lot of new stuff going on. I’m very heavy on the routine and regimen of what’s been successful for me.”

J.D. Martínez, Álex Cora Have Story’s Back

Needless to say, the team still has Story’s back. J.D. Martínez remembered how poorly his career in Boston started, while Álex Cora acknowledged that big expectations will come with big responsibilities:

“I didn’t hear the crowd,” Martinez said. “I don’t know what happened, but Trevor’s a professional. He’s a proven All-Star. My first month here, I think I was hitting like .200 and then I turned it on. So, I’m not putting anything past him. He’s a great player. He’s proven himself for a while now. I always like to measure guys at the end of the year, not after a month.”

“Expectations here are what they are,” Cora added.“What the fans expect are the same things he expects. That’s part of the equation.”

It was normal to expect some offensive regression as Story left the most hitter-friendly ballpark in the game, but no one saw this coming. Even so, it’s still early in the season and he’s too good not to turn this around.

That’s why all Major League Baseball has their eyes set on the Colorado Rockies. They finally traded away Nolan Arenado, which means that Trevor Story could be the next big-time player on the move.

As a matter offact, Story is well aware of the possibility of being traded, especially considering he’s just 28 years old and running the final year of his contract with the Colorado Rockies.

Trevor Story Knows His Time In Colorado Is Up

“I’m sad and a little frustrated to be honest. All I can do is focus on playing the best baseball I can for my teammates and the fans. They deserve it,”Story told Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post after the Arenado trade.

New York Yankees Could Trade For Trevor Story

That’s where the New York Yankees come in. Story has been tied to a move to the Yankees for quite some time now, andAbbey Mastraco of Bleacher Report recently put together a trade package that might as well get the job done for them:

“The Yankees have young assets to trade for Story. They have Miguel Andujar, who seems to be out of place. (…) They also have Gleyber Torres, a two-time All-Star who may end up being as good as Story, but is not yet. Defensive metrics favor Story, but Torres would be a hard sell. He’s four years younger than Story, he’s still under team control for four seasons and he’s highly valued by the Yankees.The Yankees also have top pitching prospect Deivi Garcia to use as a trade chip. Any package to the Rockies would probably have to start with players like Garcia and Andujar, as well as salary relief since it would put the Yankees over the $210 million luxury-tax line. The club has been hesitant to go over that in recent seasons,” the report said.

Obviously, the Yankees will be wary of giving up on Gleyber Torres just yet but there’s no denying that Trevor Story would be an upgrade on both aspects of the game. They need to win now and he’s a better fit for their timeline, so no wonder why those rumors are once again stacking up.

Keeping LeMahieu in the Bronx is said to be their priority, though. However, it seems like they’re unwilling to meet his conditions, as they don’t want to sign him to a 5-year deal nor pay him the $25 million per year he wants.

So, even if LeMahieu is also reportedly interested in coming back to The Big Apple, he’s also drawing a lot of interest from crosstown rivals New York Mets and AL East foes Toronto Blue Jays.

That’s why MLB.com’s Matt Kelly proposed a plan B for the Bronx Bombers in the case they can’t reach an agreement with the reigning AL Batting Champion. In this scenario, they’d trade for his former teammate Trevor Story.

Yankees Could Trade Clarke Schmidt And Adam Ottavino For Trevor Story

“The Yankees and DJ LeMahieu are reportedly engaged in talks to keep the 2020 American League MVP Award finalist in the Bronx, but they’re apparently a good distance apart on contract specifics. If LeMahieu were to sign elsewhere, what better replacement in the lineup than his former double-play partner in Colorado? Trading for Story would also enable Gleyber Torres, naturally a second baseman, to move back to his optimal position,” the report started.

“The Rockies, meanwhile, need pitching. So why not bring back a familiar face in Ottavino (…) and Schmidt, the Yankees’ No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline (No. 83 overall), has a two-seam fastball with good sink (ground balls are a good idea if you pitch at Coors Field) and he has demonstrated solid control (“walks will haunt” and all that, but magnitudes worse at Coors),” he concluded.

Trevor Story would be a fine addition to the Yankees, for sure. He’s a solid batter and outstanding defender, and his presence would allow Gleyber Torres to go back to his usual position rather than ‘suffering’ at shortstop with his shaky defense.

Then again, perhaps the price is too steep for Trevor. The Yankees should be wary of trading away one of their veteran relievers, let alone one of their most promising prospects. But hey, you have to be aggressive if you want to win.