According to reports from MLB.com’s John Denton last month, Nolan Arenado would be willing to waive his no-trade protection to join teams such as the Red Sox, Mets, Phillies, Padres, Dodgers, and Angels if the Cardinals could work out a deal with any of them. A recent report from MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam indicates that Arenado still views Boston as a preferred destination. However, it remains unclear if the Red Sox and Cardinals are close to a deal or if the Red Sox are motivated to acquire Arenado.
Acquiring Arenado would address some key needs for the Red Sox this offseason. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow mentioned that the team was looking for a right-handed bat in the middle of the lineup to balance out their predominantly left-handed hitters. Adding a top defensive third baseman like Arenado would significantly improve Boston’s infield defense and potentially reunite him with former teammate Trevor Story.
One obstacle to a potential trade is the presence of star third baseman Rafael Devers on the Red Sox roster. While Arenado has shown flexibility in changing positions, Devers’ agent has previously stated that his client will remain at third base. If a trade were to happen, Devers could possibly move to first base or designated hitter, leading to roster conflicts with players like Triston Casas and Masataka Yoshida.
Speculation around potential trades involving Casas and Yoshida has been ongoing this winter. While the Red Sox may explore trading Casas for pitching, Breslow has indicated that Casas is not off limits. Trading Casas could help create roster flexibility and potentially facilitate other moves.
Payroll considerations also play a significant role in any potential deal for Arenado, who is owed $74MM over the next three seasons. The Red Sox could absorb the entire contract and still remain under the luxury tax threshold. Negotiations with the Cardinals may involve sharing a portion of Arenado’s salary in exchange for better prospects.
In addition to Arenado, the Red Sox are still pursuing other targets like Alex Bregman. Bregman, who has ties to the Red Sox through manager Alex Cora and friend Walker Buehler, remains on Boston’s radar. The team’s pursuit of other targets, including Roki Sasaki, adds to the offseason intrigue surrounding the Red Sox.
