Nolan Arenado remains an option for the Boston Red Sox this offseason.
Boston still hasn’t added a right-handed bat but has remained at the forefront of rumors for infielders Alex Bregman and Arenado. Bregman, a free agent, and Arenado, a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, would both improve the Red Sox in multiple areas. But with Arenado, the cost isn’t unknown — Arenado has three years and $74 million on his Cardinals contract, which St. Louis is willing to trim down.
That’s just half the battle, of course. The other half — Arenado’s approval stamp — is the ultimate decider, however, it’s not working against the Red Sox yet.
“The fallout from Bregman’s staring contest extends well beyond him,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported. “Three years after joining St. Louis, Arenado wants to be traded, and the Cardinals would like to oblige. Just for the right price. With the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers seen as long shots to make a move for Arenado, an eight-time All-Star third baseman, the Red Sox remain the landing spot that makes the most sense. Though Arenado used his no-trade clause to block a deal to Houston this winter, he would waive it to end up in Boston, according to sources.”
Arenado, a 10-time Gold Glove Award recipient checks several boxes for the Red Sox. He’s a right-handed hitter. He’s arguably the best defensive third baseman in baseball, and with three years left on his contract, the risk factor is at a minimum. The Cardinals were willing to cover $15 to $20 million of Arenado’s remaining salary amid their discussions with the Houston Astros before Arenado declined to waive his no-trade clause for the American League West club.
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In Boston’s case, there’s already a pre-existing tie to entice Arenado: Trevor Story.
Story and Arenado spent five seasons together with the Colorado Rockies before eventually splitting up in 2020. It’s something the former Colorado All-Star duo has considered with the reunion door wide open heading into 2025.
“Obviously that seems like a cool idea and we would love that,” Story told NESN.com in January. “I think he would thrive in Boston just given his intensity, his love for the game, his passion for the game. He’s a superstar, man. I don’t think we’re turning down anybody that wants to play in Boston and wants to do it. Obviously a cool idea, but a lot of things need to happen for that.”
The Red Sox finished last season with an AL-leading 115 errors committed, marking the second straight season in which Boston’s been the worst defensive team in the AL. Granted, those figures were due in large part to injuries and instability. So adding Arenado, alongside a healthy Story and Triston Casas could solve that issue easily.
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Red Sox president and CEO Sam Kennedy referred to a right-handed bat as a “goal” and something the organization would “love” to add before the season. There’s still time, nearly seven weeks left in fact, for Boston to make that goal come to life and add a huge finishing touch to the roster before Opening Day on March 27.
Featured image via Rob Schumacher/Arizona Republic Images
