Just as the Houston Astros revealed that they're likely out on their longtime third baseman and Boston Red Sox free agent target Alex Bregman, reports have surfaced that Boston has re-established its connection with an earlier offseason target.
MLB insider Jon Morosi of MLB Network shared on the afternoon of Feb. 4 that the Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals have resumed conversations about a potential trade involving Nolan Arenado. The 10-time Gold Glove-winning third baseman has been one of Boston's right-handed targets for weeks this offseason.
Morosi reported as recently as Jan. 29 that the market for Arenado had stagnated. On Jan. 7, Katie Woo of The Athletic said that the Red Sox represented the last chance for the Cardinals to deal Arenado this offseason, which has been characterized as a "top priority" by general manager John Mozeliak. That still appears to be the case weeks later, after minimal movement in the veteran's market.
It's convenient that Boston's ties to Arenado resurfaced just as the Astros seemingly departed the race to sign Bregman. Many fans have theorized that the Red Sox's many connections to the Cardinals third baseman were meant to be leverage to convince Bregman to sign a shorter deal than he actually wants.
Red Sox and Cardinals have resumed communications about a potential Nolan Arenado trade
The Red Sox and Cardinals have had recent communication about Nolan Arenado, source says.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) February 4, 2025
If the trade talks move forward, they could have implications for Alex Bregman's market.
Of note, Cardinals exec Chaim Bloom has close knowledge of Boston's prospects.
The Red Sox are desperate for a right-handed bat in their lineup after the departure of Tyler O'Neill in free agency, but trading for Arenado makes even less sense than signing Bregman would, especially if the latter would be open to a three or four-year deal. Bregman shared that he was open to switching positions to play for a new team, and his former coach, Alex Cora, said he always envisioned him as a second baseman, one of Boston's biggest needs.
Trading for Arenado would force the Red Sox to use his defense at third base and create even more unnecessary complications with the roster. Rafael Devers would either need to move to first base, which shifts a preexisting defensive liability, or designated hitter, which would push Masataka Yoshida, another defensive liability, back to the outfield or off the roster entirely. We don't even need to address the well-established unpopularity of trading Triston Casas to accommodate Arenado.
The Red Sox are still $32 million below the first luxury tax threshold for 2025 and have more than sufficient funds to meet Bregman's contract demands. Neither Arenado nor Bregman is a perfect fit for the roster with multiple top infield prospects nearing big league readiness, but trading prospects or possible elite talent for an aging infielder when the team has plenty of money to spend — and hasn't spent adequately for years leading up to this — is nonsensical.