SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- A highlight of Rockies shortstop Trevor Story’s spring was a first text exchange with the Indians’ Francisco Lindor. Maybe they’ll talk more, share an idea or two.

Story and Lindor are linked with the Dodgers’ Corey Seager, the Cubs’ Javier Báez and the Astros’ Carlos Correa -- an exciting class of shortstops who could be in for big money when, barring anyone signing a long-term deal, they graduate into free agency after the 2021 season.

Story, 27, believes it’s early to be concerned with future contracts, saying, “I take each day for what it’s worth, make the best of that day -- and that’s a lot of days away.”

But a little friendly look-see is fine.

“It’s a great time for baseball that we have so many good shortstops,” said Story, who erased his arbitration years with a two-year, $27.5 million deal signed this winter. “Maybe not directly, but maybe indirectly, we kind of push each other. We all want to [uphold] the standard that we set. And we want to keep pushing it, too.”

Here are ways in which Story wants to make his push.

1. More feats with his feet

Story, the first shortstop with 20 or more homers in his first four MLB seasons and the first player in Rockies history with more than one 30-20 season, saw his stolen-base success rate drop from 81.8 percent in ’18 (27 of 33) to 74.2 percent last year (23 of 31). He also wants to run better with the ball in play.

“I feel like I’m leaving some stuff out there that could help us win, whether that’s stealing bases or taking extra bags -- little things like that,” Story said.

2. Discriminating selection

According to Statcast, Story tends to go outside the strike zone in counts when selectivity could help. Here are some chase rates:

• On 3-1: 29.4 percent (5 swings on 17 pitches)
MLB avg: 27.5 percent

• On 3-2: 44.1 percent (30 swings on 68 pitches)
MLB avg: 47.8 percent

• Ahead in count: 32.8 percent (109 swings on 332 pitches)
MLB avg: 29.0 percent

Better discipline would mean walks, which would improve his on-base percentage -- a career-high .363 last season

“I’ve gotten a little bit better and a little bit better each year, trying to hone in on that,” Story said.

3. Friendship is key

Third baseman Nolan Arenado’s squabbles with the front office have been the big offseason story. But through it all, Arenado has said Story has been a sounding board. And even last year, Story said Arenado and right fielder Charlie Blackmon were keeping him sane and informed as he went through his own contract.

“It’s one of the most important relationships that I’ve formed -- in baseball and off the field,” Story said of Arenado. “We have such a passion for the game, very similar minds of how good we want to be. It’s hard to find that sometimes.

“We have the same types of pressure and expectations. So it’s always great to have a guy like that in my corner.”

4. Be quiet but be vocal

Story set becoming a more vocal leader as an important goal. As the offseason went into Spring Training and the Arenado situation and lack of offseason moves became a negative hanging over camp, Story went about clearing the air in a positive way.

“Not in a group setting have I done that; for me I’m more about going to a guy and talking to him man-to-man,” Story said. "And vice-versa. They come to me.”

5. They’re in this together

For a team that won just 71 games last year, the Rockies are under immense and immediate pressure, thanks in part to Arenado’s ability to opt out after 2021 -- when Story and right-hander Jon Gray could become free agents.

If the Rockies have an early losing streak, who will stop the Rockies from turning their attention to the uncertain Trade Deadline?

Well, there’s Story. And Arenado. And Blackmon. And, Story says, veterans Ian Desmond and Daniel Murphy.

“We’ve got to stick together,” Story said. “That’s our message so far.

“People are doubting us right now. Maybe that’s not the worst thing. You tend to see the best out of people when they’ve written you off already.”