Boston Red Sox fans have long awaited the team's addition of a right-handed bat. Alex Bregman and Nolan Arenado are the best (and some of the only) options available on the free agent and trade market, respectively.
As the offseason went on, Boston appeared increasingly unlikely to meet Bregman's contract demands. Trade discussions have reopened with the Cardinals as a result, but the Sox haven't come close to landing Arenado yet. The holdup may not be entirely their fault, either.
In a Feb. 11 free agent update, MLB insider Jeff Passan commented on St. Louis' offseason strategy (subscription required). The Cardinals hope to rebuild after missing two straight postseasons, but their approach to improvement has puzzled other executives across the league.
“Why St. Louis hasn’t been more aggressive in dealing its bevy of talent — from Arenado to starters Sonny Gray and Erick Fedde to closer Ryan Helsley to young players (Jordan Walker and Nolan Gorman) who have hit a wall — is confounding executives around the industry,” Passan wrote. “If the Cardinals aren’t going to spend — and they haven’t spent a dollar in free agency — surely, the thinking goes, they should leverage the players they’ve got now and start building toward something more.”
Cardinals' offseason strategy critiqued by MLB insider, executives, as Red Sox remain in the market for Nolan Arenado
St. Louis hoped to trade Arenado to shed some payroll to set its rebuild into motion, but Passan has a point. The Cardinals have received multiple "F" grades for their offseason because they haven't done anything. They've spent no money on free agents, nor have they traded any of their excess veteran talent to continue the youth movement beginning in their clubhouse.
In fairness, St. Louis did have a deal with the Astros that would've sent Arenado to Houston, but the veteran has a no-trade clause on his contract and swiftly denied the move. The Red Sox are on the short list of teams to which Arenado is willing to be moved, but the two sides haven't reached an agreement, as the Cardinals will only eat so much of the veteran's $74 million contract.
As stubborn as St. Louis has been about money, Boston rivals it. The Red Sox are so close to being a great team and could be one of the best in a wide-open American League with a few more moves, like adding a righty bat and bullpen depth. But Arenado isn't a perfect fit for the roster, and bringing him to Boston would require much shuffling of the roster and could block top prospects from the big leagues.
All things considered, the Cardinals are more desperate to move Arenado than the Sox are to bring him in. If St. Louis hopes to improve at all for the 2025 season, it needs to take Passan's advice and be more aggressive and willing to compromise in the trade market.