Boston Red Sox
One could make a compelling case for Franklin Arias, Andruw Monasterio, or Trevor Story.
Andruw Monasterio and Trevor Story are competing for the job at shortstop. Could Franklin Arias leapfrog both? Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
August 18, 2026 | 6:26 PM
6 minutes to read
Sometimes in life, it feels like you’re out of options and decisions are made for you. While you’d love a little autonomy and flexibility, the reality is that the outcome is largely out of your control. The verdict is what it is, and you have to live with the results.
Then, there are other instances where you feel like you have analysis paralysis and too many options at your disposal. Which job should I take? Which college should I attend? Which girl should I ask to the prom? Which sport should I play in college? I’m not speaking from personal experience here, but you get the idea.
By all accounts, it appears as though the Red Sox have made up their minds. Until further notice, once he returns from the injured list, Trevor Story is their starting shortstop. While Story had a tough start to the season before his sports hernia injury, he’s a proven veteran who fared well in a large sample size a season ago.
Fans may not agree, but he appears to be the safest option in their view. It would be easy to simply close the Excel spreadsheet, shut the laptop, and go about their day.
But wait a minute, what about Andruw Monasterio? Hasn’t he done enough to at least warrant a look? The Red Sox have shown they can win with Monasterio in the lineup. While his defense is — let’s just say — below average, he has been electric offensively during their summer surge. Wouldn’t it be a little silly to sit him on the bench after all he’s accomplished to this point?
Hold up, hold up. Story and Monasterio are decent, but don’t the Red Sox have that young guy who’s supposed to be the next big thing? Not Marcelo Mayer. Not Kristian Campbell. What’s his name again? Oh, right. Franklin Arias. He may be 20 years old, but if he’s that talented, surely it’s time to let him loose, right? So what if there’s a bit of a learning curve? Bring up now, let him get his feet wet, and let him learn as he goes.
All right, this is proving to be more difficult than expected. What seemed like a straightforward decision is now becoming a bit of a conundrum. Story could go either way, Monasterio is safe but has a lower ceiling, and Arias is exciting but a bit of a wild card. What should the Red Sox do? Let’s take a closer look.
The case for Trevor Story
Story has shown, at various points in his career, that he is a true star when everything is clicking.
That’s why his struggles are illuminated, because we all know the talent, poise, and intelligence are there. It seems like Story is rushing to get back on the field, and it doesn’t feel like a coincidence that he’s doing so now.
Trevor Story on coming back to Boston soon:
“That’s the goal is to come back in, and like we did last year, play in the playoffs and make a run. We’ve shown what we can do, and we have some more key pieces coming back, so I’m excited about that. Excited to fit back into the mix,… pic.twitter.com/61PtXHRK3l
— Bridgette Proulx (@bridgetteproulx) August 16, 2026
Story knows the new guy is making waves and the even newer guy is lurking in the shadows. He wants to reestablish himself as the go-to guy. Can you blame him?
The upside for Story? He is more of a home-run threat than Monasterio, is more savvy than Arias, and has more experience than both. He also stole 31 bases in 32 attempts last year. The downside? He struck out 176 times last year and 57 times in 41 games this year. He committed 19 errors a season ago and is inconsistent, even when he’s looking like himself.
While there are many reasons Story is the obvious choice, it’s difficult to know which version will show up when it matters most.
The case for Monasterio
Ride the hot hand. Sometimes, it’s that simple. Monasterio has reached base safely in 25 of his last 29 games and is batting .330 with 23 RBIs in that span.
Twenty-nine of his 65 hits this season have gone for extra bases, and he is tied for the American League lead in doubles since the All-Star break with 10. Monasterio seems to always deliver in the clutch when the Red Sox need a big hit. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
So, is this the guy? Well, maybe, but it’s not that simple. Monasterio has a .697 career OPS compared to .809 for Story. His career slugging percentage is .376, compared to .483 for Story. Just because he’s doing it right now, that doesn’t necessarily guarantee he’ll do it in October.
He also has four errors. While he’s shown some flashes in the field, there is the risk that he could commit a costly error in a key spot. But, there is also that risk for Story and Arias. Tsung-Che Cheng could come on as a defensive replacement for any of the three.
Monasterio deserves plenty of love, but he’ll have to continue to earn it.
The case for Arias
It’s like in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, when Cameron’s father’s 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder is sitting in the garage just begging to be used.
The Red Sox should take it for a spin to test out the wheels, but they shouldn’t go recklessly gallivanting around Chicago without a care in the world. Drive it around the block, see how it rides, then figure out what comes next.
Arias has the flash, the skill, and the versatility to shine at the next level. Does he have the poise, grit, and wherewithal? That’s another question, and it’s a lot to ask of a 20 year old.
Even if Arias blossoms into a star, it’s highly unlikely he’ll star in these playoffs. If he does, and the Red Sox truly have a generational talent on their hands, we can all tip our caps and this discussion becomes moot. In the much more likely event that he doesn’t, we can all temper our expectations and let the kid develop.
One could argue that Arias should stay in the minors for the rest of the season, but the reality is that it would be somewhat silly to not give him a shot. Maybe he is that good. Time will tell, but you don’t know unless you try. The Red Sox need to do everything in their power to win now and consequently should play every valuable card in their hand.
The verdict
OK, so this has all been lovely, but I have dinner plans. What’s the verdict? Who should they go with? Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but the answer isn’t as clear cut as you might like. In my opinion, Story, Monasterio, and Arias should all be on the roster. You can never have too many shortstops.
Story deserves a shot at redemption. Monasterio deserves a shot to show this wasn’t a fluke. Arias deserves a shot to flaunt his potential.
I personally believe all three should play in the coming weeks. Make it an de facto tryout and let the best man win.
While Story eases his way back, and Arias eases his way in, Monasterio can serve as a grounding force. Story has first dibs. If he looks like himself and returns to form, he’s the guy. It’s that simple. If not, Arias should get a crack at it. If he dominates, he’s the guy. If they both struggle, good ol’ Monasterio will be there for backup. Try out your old sneakers to see if they still fit, have the flashy new ones at your disposal, then go back to the reliable everyday pair if neither suits your fancy.
Regardless of how it unfolds, the Red Sox have three intriguing options at the position. Don’t let the analysis paralysis prevail. Give all three a shot, see how organically it shakes out, and make a decision. They could even mix and match based on potential matchups and splits if they’re hesitant to commit to just one.
As for a prediction, I think Story wins the job, Monasterio still provides value off the bench, and Arias shows flashes but is still a year or two away from becoming a go-to option. Regardless, make no mistake … This is the definition of a good problem to have.
Trevor Hass is a sports producer for Boston.com, where he writes and edits stories about Boston’s professional teams, among other tasks.
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