The Boston Red Sox don't appear any closer to signing Alex Bregman as spring training begins than they did two months ago. Still, the team remains desperate for a right-handed bat.
The Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals have discussed a trade that would send third baseman Nolan Arrenado to Boston on a few occasions, but the two sides have been unable to close a deal. Recent reports suggest the holdup is caused by a disagreement over how much of Arenado's $74 million contract the Cardinals are willing to eat.
The Red Sox aren't the only team the Cards have courted as a potential landing spot for Arenado. Trade discussions have also occurred with the Dodgers and Yankees, with the latter being the best fit of the three for the third baseman — New York needs an upgrade at third base, as DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera or Jazz Chisholm Jr. are its best options for Opening Day.
Arenado has a no-trade clause on his contract, and the Yankees haven't as often been mentioned as one of the teams he'd be willing to play for. Boston has the upper hand there, as the Red Sox appear to rank near the top of Arenado's short list of acceptable destinations.
"I would be surprised if Arenado is a Cardinal come Opening Day."@Feinsand has the latest news on third basemen Nolan Arenado and Alex Bregman ⬇️#MLBTonight pic.twitter.com/gjX1DSxpcg
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) February 11, 2025
But St. Louis is getting desperate. Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak has named trading Arenado as a "top priority" this offseason, and if the Red Sox continue to insist they pay more of the contract, another team more willing to spend will swoop in and trade for the third baseman from right under them.
If the Yankees proved anything this offseason, it's that they're willing to spend when necessary (not to the extent the Dodgers have done, however.) When the Yankees lost out on Juan Soto, they signed Max Fried to a record-breaking contract, added Paul Goldschmidt, and traded for Devin Williams and Cody Bellinger to round out their lineup in other ways. Arenado could be an ideal final piece for New York's roster, and the longer Boston puts off a deal with St. Louis, the farther into first place in the American League East the Yankees will get.
The Red Sox's hesitance to trade for Arenado or sign Bregman for the six to seven years he seeks makes sense. Neither player is a perfect fit for the team, and trading assets for an imperfect fit isn't wise when they could be better used elsewhere. But if Boston is unwilling to trade for Arenado to bolster its batting order and infield defense, it should be prepared for the Yankees to improve even further.