Story reflects on 'emotional' Deadline day

SAN DIEGO – With all the buzz leading up to Friday’s Trade Deadline, Trevor Story felt the emotions of it all.

Story, who will be a free agent at the end of the 2021 season, was one of the more talked-about names around MLB as an impact player who could be traded from the Rockies. The potential move, however, was not made, keeping Story in Denver for the remainder of his contract.

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The two-time All-Star shortstop said Saturday that knowing where he’d be following the Deadline provided some clarity for the remainder of the season.

"I feel much better today,” he said. “Just the certainty of knowing what my situation is like the next couple of months is good to know."

Like many people, Story saw the moves being made around the league and thought that at any moment he would receive a call, letting him know that he was on the move.

But after the frenzy ended and Story stayed put with the Rockies, he felt it was best for him to be scratched from Friday’s starting lineup against the Padres as a way to get a mental break.

“Yesterday was a pretty emotional day,” he said. “To clear my mind and just kind of reset, I felt like I needed to get that out of the way.”

The 28-year-old is having a down year by his standards. He was set back by an elbow injury that forced him to hit the injured list in late May. He entered Saturday batting .240 with a .741 OPS, both of which would be the lowest marks over his six big league seasons.

He said the obstacles he has faced this year have been frustrating and now that the Deadline has passed, he is focused on playing baseball.

"I think kind of the older you get in this game and the more you're around, you see kind of the business side of baseball,” Story said. “Young me may have let that affect me a little bit this year, but as far as the last couple weeks go or all the trade speculation or whatever, that's part of the game. Decisions are made. It's my job to go out there and play baseball. That's kind of the overbroad feeling that I have.”

Following the Deadline, Story said he felt confused by the Rockies' decision not to trade him. A day later, he made it clear that his confusion with the situation was not intended to cause rifts inside the clubhouse.

“I didn't have great things to say about the situation, but I'm not here to breed any type of negativity or any type of doubt into this clubhouse or on this field, because that's just not who I am,” Story said. “I feel like the way I'm looking at it is I'm going to enjoy my teammates these next couple months. I will go out there and be the best player that I can be. I'm excited about that. I'm excited to play ball again and not have all those things overhead.”