The Boston Red Sox need a right-handed bat to balance their offense and their search has mostly narrowed to two veteran third basemen.
Either Alex Bregman or Nolan Arenado would be a solid final puzzle piece for Boston, and given its reluctance to sign expensive free agents, the latter seems like a likely choice. The Red Sox are one of the few teams for which Arenado would waive his no-trade clause, and reports said that they could be his last chance to leave St. Louis before the 2025 season.
However, the veteran may have changed his mind recently. MLB Network insider Jon Morosi reported on the Jan. 9 episode of "Hot Stove" that Arenado has opened up to waiving his no-trade clause for a few more teams. Morosi mentioned the Mariners and Tigers are other potential trade destinations for the 33-year-old.
Arenado is under contract for three seasons and owed $74 million over that time. He wouldn't be an inexpensive addition to Boston's payroll, but he'd be a much shorter investment than Bregman, who reportedly seeks a seven-year deal.
Nolan Arenado will waive his no-trade clause for more clubs than just the Red Sox
Nolan Arenado has reportedly been more "open minded" to waiving his no-trade clause to more teams in the last 24 hours, per @jonmorosi.#MLBNHotStove pic.twitter.com/AibevANjLl
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 9, 2025
The Red Sox have plenty of money and payroll flexibility to sign Bregman — who's probably the better option for the team given his history of offensive success at Fenway Park — but the organization's irrational fear of long-term deals may keep it from pulling the trigger. Arenado's offensive production has slightly declined in recent years, but the six-time Platinum Glove award winner would be quite the defensive upgrade from Rafael Devers at the hot corner.
Arenado batted .272/.325/.394 over 152 games with the Cardinals last year. His 16 homers won't replace Tyler O'Neill's 2024- team-leading home run production, but his swing profile is well-suited to Fenway Park. He's one of the best righty bats remaining on the market this offseason, and if Boston is beaten to the punch by another team interested in trading for him, it may have no choice but to give Bregman the long-term deal he wants.